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: $433 in Mardan versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $641 in Mardan versus $732 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $848 in Mardan versus $988 in Karachi.

Living in Mardan costs roughly 9% 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

$2.18 PKR 607

$2.11 PKR 587

3.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.39 PKR 4,012

$12.18 PKR 3,396

18.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PKR 1,491

$4.21 PKR 1,174

27.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 488

$1.92 PKR 536

-8.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 PKR 1,097

$5.37 PKR 1,496

-26.82%

Cappuccino

$2.06 PKR 574

$1.81 PKR 504

13.81%

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

$0.29 PKR 79.8

$0.34 PKR 94.2

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.0

$0.21 PKR 58.4

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.84 PKR 235

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 PKR 182

$0.54 PKR 152

20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 233

$1.13 PKR 315

-25.66%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.16 PKR 324

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,680

$6.36 PKR 1,772

-5.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 PKR 666

$3.18 PKR 887

-24.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 866

$5.13 PKR 1,429

-39.57%

Apples (1kg)

$0.74 PKR 205

$1.05 PKR 292

-29.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.58 PKR 163

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 PKR 266

$0.94 PKR 261

1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.8

$0.56 PKR 157

-46.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.39 PKR 108

-38.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.47 PKR 131

-21.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.1

$0.36 PKR 99.7

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 PKR 41.17

$0.43 PKR 121

-65.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 552

$1.41 PKR 392

40.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 243

$1.30 PKR 363

-33.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 554

$2.05 PKR 571

-2.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 PKR 383

$2.18 PKR 608

-37.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.01

$0.36 PKR 102

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.04 PKR 1,964

$6.54 PKR 1,823

7.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 102

$0.74 PKR 206

-51.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 PKR 96.0

$0.62 PKR 174

-45.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 506

$1.76 PKR 490

2.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$0.94 PKR 263

3.19%

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

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

27.41%

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

$26.2K PKR 7.3M

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

4.94%

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

$114 PKR 31.8K

$137 PKR 38.3K

-16.88%

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

$5.37 PKR 1,497

$4.99 PKR 1,390

7.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.43 PKR 5,137

$13.58 PKR 3,787

35.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.43 PKR 3,464

$15.81 PKR 4,408

-21.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 PKR 1,647

$14.27 PKR 3,978

-58.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 PKR 1,165

$4.29 PKR 1,195

-2.56%

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

$17.36 PKR 4,839

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

-70.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,128 PKR 314.4K

$1,373 PKR 382.8K

-17.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.42 PKR 5,970

$17.85 PKR 4,976

20.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 PKR 7,781

$25.82 PKR 7,197

8.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 25.0K

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

37.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.55 PKR 4,893

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

-51.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

$120 PKR 33.6K

-37.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$75.1 PKR 20.9K

-31.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.8K

$321 PKR 89.5K

-48.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.1K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-40.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 PKR 209.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$465 PKR 129.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 PKR 75.2K

$167 PKR 46.6K

61.40%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Karachi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.8 in Mardan and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mardan pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Mardan vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $78.0 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 10% in total monthly costs ($433 vs $476 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mardan pays 61% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.8 in Mardan versus $120 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $433 per month in Mardan versus $476 in Karachi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 8% 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 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.