Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirpur and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $313 in Mirpur versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $473 in Mirpur versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $633 in Mirpur versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Mirpur costs roughly 34% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mirpur 77% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 PKR 480

$2.14 PKR 595

-19.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.48 PKR 2,082

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-39.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 PKR 1,013

$4.06 PKR 1,129

-10.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 PKR 384

$1.99 PKR 553

-30.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 PKR 486

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-66.48%

Cappuccino

$1.53 PKR 424

$1.89 PKR 525

-19.05%

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

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.36 PKR 101

-19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 43.84

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.83 PKR 231

-15.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.58 PKR 161

-12.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.13 PKR 315

15.04%

Eggs

$0.83 PKR 232

$1.21 PKR 337

-31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 993

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-43.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 717

$3.19 PKR 887

-19.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 910

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-33.40%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.03 PKR 287

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.58 PKR 162

1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.93 PKR 258

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.56 PKR 156

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$0.39 PKR 108

-30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.7

$0.51 PKR 141

-43.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.9

$0.38 PKR 107

-28.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 PKR 93.1

$0.43 PKR 120

-23.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 PKR 265

$1.28 PKR 356

-25.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PKR 237

$1.26 PKR 351

-32.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.08 PKR 580

-0.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 PKR 509

$2.08 PKR 580

-12.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.70

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,974

$6.33 PKR 1,762

12.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.74 PKR 205

39.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.61 PKR 171

-18.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 488

$1.79 PKR 497

-1.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

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

$8,947 PKR 2.5M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

-45.45%

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

$14.1K PKR 3.9M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-42.41%

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

$57.4 PKR 16.0K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-56.60%

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

$1.79 PKR 498

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-63.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.68 PKR 3,527

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-6.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.87 PKR 1,912

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-55.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.59 PKR 1,000

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-74.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,008

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-16.40%

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

$28.71 PKR 7,987

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-50.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,109 PKR 308.6K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-20.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.34 PKR 4,545

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.71 PKR 4,927

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-30.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.90 PKR 9,988

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-44.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.09 PKR 7,259

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.7K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-41.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-29.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.4K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-67.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.9 PKR 27.8K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-45.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,131 PKR 314.6K

$985 PKR 273.9K

14.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$556 PKR 154.7K

$457 PKR 127.3K

21.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 PKR 39.3K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-21.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

1.12%

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

Last update for Mirpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.0 in Mirpur and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 28% 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: $7.00 in Mirpur vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $74.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Mirpur 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

Mirpur vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mirpur and Karachi differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($313 vs $477 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 28% 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: $71.0 in Mirpur versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $313 per month in Mirpur versus $477 in Karachi – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur 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 $1,200 a month, though Mirpur 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 Mirpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.