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: $425 in Mardan versus $482 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in Mardan versus $737 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $852 in Mardan versus $992 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

$2.16 PKR 601

$2.08 PKR 578

3.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.27 PKR 3,966

$12.44 PKR 3,458

14.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 PKR 1,458

$4.07 PKR 1,131

28.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.00 PKR 557

-10.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 PKR 1,085

$5.42 PKR 1,506

-28.04%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PKR 560

$1.88 PKR 524

7.45%

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

$0.29 PKR 79.8

$0.34 PKR 93.2

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.8

$0.23 PKR 64.0

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 213

$0.80 PKR 223

-3.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.54 PKR 149

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 235

$1.12 PKR 312

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 329

$1.18 PKR 328

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PKR 1,696

$6.61 PKR 1,838

-7.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.37 PKR 658

$3.19 PKR 886

-25.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$5.07 PKR 1,408

-35.90%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.05 PKR 291

-34.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.56 PKR 155

-10.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.89 PKR 247

7.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.9

$0.57 PKR 158

-42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 PKR 66.3

$0.35 PKR 98.7

-31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.47 PKR 130

-23.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.0

$0.35 PKR 98.0

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.14 PKR 39.76

$0.41 PKR 113

-65.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 404

$1.27 PKR 354

14.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 257

$1.32 PKR 366

-29.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 562

$2.04 PKR 568

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.45 PKR 404

$2.11 PKR 586

-31.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 PKR 42.86

$0.36 PKR 100

-58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$6.24 PKR 1,734

11.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 PKR 93.5

$0.73 PKR 203

-53.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 96.4

$0.61 PKR 171

-42.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.75 PKR 487

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.88 PKR 245

11.36%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

25.91%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.2M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

6.23%

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

$113 PKR 31.5K

$133 PKR 36.9K

-14.71%

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

$5.55 PKR 1,543

$5.11 PKR 1,419

8.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 PKR 5,173

$13.67 PKR 3,801

36.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.45 PKR 3,462

$15.52 PKR 4,315

-19.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 PKR 1,666

$14.45 PKR 4,018

-58.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,189

$4.21 PKR 1,172

1.66%

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

$17.48 PKR 4,860

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-69.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

$1,384 PKR 384.8K

-19.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.77 PKR 6,053

$17.48 PKR 4,859

24.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.11 PKR 7,815

$24.97 PKR 6,943

12.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 PKR 24.5K

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

36.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.03 PKR 5,012

$36.19 PKR 10.1K

-50.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.8 PKR 20.8K

$117 PKR 32.6K

-36.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 PKR 14.3K

$73.8 PKR 20.5K

-30.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.1K

$312 PKR 86.7K

-45.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.1K

$182 PKR 50.5K

-42.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$752 PKR 209.0K

$929 PKR 258.2K

-19.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$436 PKR 121.1K

$437 PKR 121.4K

-0.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 PKR 76.4K

$176 PKR 48.9K

56.24%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.8 in Mardan and $117 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mardan pays 56% 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 13% in total monthly costs ($425 vs $482 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mardan pays 56% 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: $74.8 in Mardan versus $117 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $425 per month in Mardan versus $482 in Karachi – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mardan runs roughly 12% 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 13% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.