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: $500 in Mardan versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $767 in Mardan versus $742 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,033 in Mardan versus $1,009 in Karachi.

Living in Mardan is roughly 5% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mardan 63% lower, Karachi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 PKR 994

$2.20 PKR 609

63.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.00 PKR 6,371

$13.66 PKR 3,785

68.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,531

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-0.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 PKR 994

$2.15 PKR 595

66.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 PKR 1,918

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-5.98%

Cappuccino

$2.62 PKR 725

$2.23 PKR 617

17.49%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.5

$0.36 PKR 99.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.85 PKR 234

7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.55 PKR 154

43.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.20 PKR 332

7.50%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.22 PKR 338

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.97 PKR 823

$6.24 PKR 1,727

-52.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 864

$3.10 PKR 860

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,035

$6.36 PKR 1,761

-41.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.27 PKR 351

-25.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.54 PKR 150

37.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.04 PKR 287

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.61 PKR 168

-39.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 PKR 78.3

$0.32 PKR 88.2

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.30 PKR 84.4

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.28 PKR 76.4

$0.40 PKR 110

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.43 PKR 120

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.77 PKR 489

$1.28 PKR 355

38.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PKR 326

$1.38 PKR 381

-14.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 PKR 746

$2.41 PKR 666

11.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 PKR 493

$1.82 PKR 503

-2.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.23

$0.28 PKR 77.4

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.72 PKR 2,970

$8.08 PKR 2,239

32.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 PKR 359

$0.74 PKR 205

75.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.74 PKR 204

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 PKR 460

$2.11 PKR 583

-21.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.32 PKR 366

-22.73%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

18.80%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-11.51%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$109 PKR 30.2K

-4.34%

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

$5.69 PKR 1,575

$5.83 PKR 1,614

-2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.72 PKR 4,353

$12.96 PKR 3,589

21.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.73 PKR 4,079

$21.39 PKR 5,927

-31.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,203

$4.25 PKR 1,178

2.12%

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

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

50.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

-34.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.74 PKR 6,852

$15.72 PKR 4,355

57.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 PKR 9,501

$22.45 PKR 6,218

52.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

43.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$111 PKR 30.8K

14.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

7.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 PKR 69.4K

$327 PKR 90.5K

-23.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.7K

$181 PKR 50.1K

-16.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$994 PKR 275.4K

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

-2.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$591 PKR 163.8K

$484 PKR 134.2K

22.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Mardan and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mardan vs $14.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $85.0 vs $102, 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 5% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $476 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $750 in Mardan and $714 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: $128 in Mardan versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $500 per month in Mardan versus $476 in Karachi – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 33% less than in Mardan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Mardan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.