Cost of Living Comparison Between Mardan and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mardan and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $424 in Mardan versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $638 in Mardan versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $851 in Mardan versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Mardan costs roughly 12% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mardan 68% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 571

$2.06 PKR 572

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.31 PKR 3,970

$12.15 PKR 3,373

17.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 PKR 1,487

$4.00 PKR 1,111

34.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 479

$1.92 PKR 533

-9.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,110

$5.33 PKR 1,478

-24.95%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 556

$1.85 PKR 513

8.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.23 PKR 64.0

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 214

$0.84 PKR 232

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.58 PKR 162

6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$1.12 PKR 310

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.17 PKR 325

1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.33 PKR 1,756

$6.28 PKR 1,744

0.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.31 PKR 641

$3.18 PKR 884

-27.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.26 PKR 904

$5.03 PKR 1,396

-35.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.05 PKR 291

-34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.59 PKR 165

-6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.92 PKR 256

4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.54 PKR 149

-38.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 66.6

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.47 PKR 130

-21.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.35 PKR 97.8

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.13 PKR 35.05

$0.44 PKR 121

-70.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 396

$1.29 PKR 358

10.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.27 PKR 353

-30.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PKR 543

$2.05 PKR 569

-4.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 PKR 398

$2.08 PKR 578

-31.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.54

$0.36 PKR 100

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,911

$6.42 PKR 1,782

7.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.69 PKR 190

-47.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 94.9

$0.66 PKR 184

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.73 PKR 480

4.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.92 PKR 254

-3.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

26.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

6.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-15.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.55 PKR 1,540

$4.86 PKR 1,349

14.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.45 PKR 5,120

$13.62 PKR 3,779

35.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.30 PKR 3,414

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-19.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 PKR 1,664

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-58.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PKR 1,181

$4.11 PKR 1,142

3.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$17.48 PKR 4,851

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

-69.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,112 PKR 308.7K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

-19.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.33 PKR 5,920

$17.46 PKR 4,847

22.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,669

$25.90 PKR 7,188

6.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

40.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.39 PKR 4,827

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

-52.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$119 PKR 33.0K

-36.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

-31.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$318 PKR 88.2K

-47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.1K

$185 PKR 51.3K

-43.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$867 PKR 240.6K

$912 PKR 253.2K

-4.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.9K

$442 PKR 122.5K

15.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mardan: July 25, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Mardan and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Mardan vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $79.0 vs $97.0, with Mardan cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Mardan vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mardan and Karachi differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($424 vs $483 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $636 in Mardan and $725 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.5 in Mardan versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $424 per month in Mardan versus $483 in Karachi – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 7% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mardan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Mardan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.