Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $439 in Mehar versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $654 in Mehar versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $870 in Mehar versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 4% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mehar 68% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 PKR 561

$2.20 PKR 611

-8.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.95 PKR 3,034

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-23.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PKR 1,666

$5.27 PKR 1,462

14.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 PKR 726

$2.14 PKR 593

22.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 PKR 1,392

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-31.79%

Cappuccino

$1.56 PKR 433

$2.20 PKR 610

-29.09%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.33 PKR 92.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.23 PKR 63.3

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.89 PKR 248

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 PKR 176

$0.52 PKR 145

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.24 PKR 345

-4.84%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

$1.21 PKR 335

3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 PKR 1,662

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-3.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 PKR 735

$3.03 PKR 841

-12.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.86 PKR 1,346

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-20.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.22 PKR 339

-2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.55 PKR 153

1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.98 PKR 272

-25.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.59 PKR 164

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.0

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.6

$0.31 PKR 85.2

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 95.4

$0.39 PKR 109

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.43 PKR 121

-23.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 550

$1.25 PKR 347

58.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.32 PKR 365

-13.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 PKR 642

$2.48 PKR 687

-6.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 PKR 678

$1.79 PKR 496

36.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.2

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 PKR 2,770

$8.20 PKR 2,273

21.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 PKR 313

$0.74 PKR 205

52.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.70 PKR 194

-12.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.20 PKR 609

-21.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.33 PKR 369

-12.78%

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

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

27.53%

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

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

4.02%

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

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-8.18%

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

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-6.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.66 PKR 4,063

$12.86 PKR 3,565

14.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-28.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PKR 1,213

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-0.45%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-12.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$944 PKR 261.7K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

-31.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.64 PKR 3,781

$14.81 PKR 4,106

-7.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.66 PKR 6,283

$21.90 PKR 6,071

3.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

0.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.72 PKR 7,685

$35.81 PKR 9,926

-22.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$111 PKR 30.8K

13.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

9.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.6K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 PKR 41.2K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-17.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$953 PKR 264.2K

$976 PKR 270.7K

-2.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 PKR 141.3K

$467 PKR 129.6K

9.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-41.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Mehar and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 71% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Mehar vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $92.0 vs $101 per month, with Mehar cheaper across the board.

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

Mehar vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mehar and Karachi differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($439 vs $457 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 71% lower in Karachi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Mehar versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $439 per month in Mehar versus $457 in Karachi – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 22% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar 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 Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.