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: $390 in Mehar versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $584 in Mehar versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $778 in Mehar versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 18% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mehar 71% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$2.14 PKR 596

-18.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.59 PKR 2,946

$12.44 PKR 3,462

-14.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,110

$4.06 PKR 1,129

-1.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.99 PKR 553

-12.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 PKR 957

$5.22 PKR 1,452

-34.10%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 402

$1.89 PKR 525

-23.81%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$0.36 PKR 101

-2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.83 PKR 231

-6.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.58 PKR 161

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 334

$1.13 PKR 315

6.19%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.21 PKR 337

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 PKR 1,703

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-2.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.68 PKR 747

$3.19 PKR 887

-15.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 PKR 1,050

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-23.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 288

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.58 PKR 162

12.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.93 PKR 258

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.56 PKR 156

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.39 PKR 108

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.38 PKR 107

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.7

$0.43 PKR 120

-20.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.49 PKR 416

$1.28 PKR 356

16.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.26 PKR 351

-26.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PKR 565

$2.08 PKR 580

-2.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 PKR 535

$2.08 PKR 580

-7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.2

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,013

$6.33 PKR 1,762

14.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 255

$0.74 PKR 205

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.61 PKR 171

-27.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$1.79 PKR 497

1.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

31.19%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-5.10%

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

$103 PKR 28.6K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-22.19%

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

$4.08 PKR 1,136

$4.90 PKR 1,363

-16.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.55 PKR 3,770

$13.63 PKR 3,792

-0.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.53 PKR 3,487

$15.55 PKR 4,327

-19.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PKR 1,665

$14.33 PKR 3,987

-58.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 PKR 980

$4.33 PKR 1,204

-18.71%

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

$30.10 PKR 8,377

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-48.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,126 PKR 313.4K

$1,402 PKR 390.0K

-19.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.93 PKR 4,155

$17.73 PKR 4,934

-15.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 PKR 6,076

$25.51 PKR 7,099

-14.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 PKR 19.5K

$64.2 PKR 17.9K

9.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,183

$35.86 PKR 9,979

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-39.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.8 PKR 14.1K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-31.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.6K

$323 PKR 89.9K

-48.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-41.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,059 PKR 294.8K

$985 PKR 274.0K

7.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$463 PKR 128.9K

$457 PKR 127.3K

1.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 PKR 29.5K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-41.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

6.74%

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

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Mehar and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 70% 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 $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $97.0 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 22% in total monthly costs ($390 vs $477 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 70% less. 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: $73.9 in Mehar versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $390 per month in Mehar versus $477 in Karachi – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 14% 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 22% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.