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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 PKRΒ 480
$2.14 PKRΒ 595
-19.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.48 PKRΒ 2,082
$12.44 PKRΒ 3,461
-39.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 PKRΒ 1,013
$4.06 PKRΒ 1,129
-10.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 PKRΒ 384
$1.99 PKRΒ 553
-30.65%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 PKRΒ 486
$5.22 PKRΒ 1,451
-66.48%
Cappuccino
$1.53 PKRΒ 424
$1.89 PKRΒ 525
-19.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 PKRΒ 81.7
$0.36 PKRΒ 101
-19.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 PKRΒ 43.84
$0.23 PKRΒ 64.2
-30.43%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 PKRΒ 195
$0.83 PKRΒ 231
-15.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 PKRΒ 141
$0.58 PKRΒ 161
-12.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PKRΒ 361
$1.13 PKRΒ 315
15.04%
Eggs
$0.83 PKRΒ 232
$1.21 PKRΒ 337
-31.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 PKRΒ 993
$6.29 PKRΒ 1,749
-43.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 PKRΒ 717
$3.19 PKRΒ 887
-19.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.27 PKRΒ 910
$4.91 PKRΒ 1,365
-33.40%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 PKRΒ 274
$1.03 PKRΒ 287
-3.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 PKRΒ 163
$0.58 PKRΒ 162
1.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.62 PKRΒ 173
$0.93 PKRΒ 258
-33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKRΒ 144
$0.56 PKRΒ 156
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.27 PKRΒ 74.2
$0.39 PKRΒ 108
-30.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.29 PKRΒ 81.7
$0.51 PKRΒ 141
-43.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 PKRΒ 74.9
$0.38 PKRΒ 107
-28.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 PKRΒ 93.1
$0.43 PKRΒ 120
-23.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.95 PKRΒ 265
$1.28 PKRΒ 356
-25.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 PKRΒ 237
$1.26 PKRΒ 351
-32.54%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 PKRΒ 573
$2.08 PKRΒ 580
-0.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83 PKRΒ 509
$2.08 PKRΒ 580
-12.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKRΒ 49.70
$0.34 PKRΒ 94.4
-47.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.10 PKRΒ 1,974
$6.33 PKRΒ 1,762
12.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 PKRΒ 286
$0.74 PKRΒ 205
39.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 PKRΒ 139
$0.61 PKRΒ 171
-18.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 PKRΒ 488
$1.79 PKRΒ 497
-1.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKRΒ 256
$0.92 PKRΒ 256
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,947 PKRΒ 2.5M
$16.4K PKRΒ 4.6M
-45.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.1K PKRΒ 3.9M
$24.5K PKRΒ 6.8M
-42.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.4 PKRΒ 16.0K
$132 PKRΒ 36.8K
-56.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.79 PKRΒ 498
$4.90 PKRΒ 1,362
-63.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.68 PKRΒ 3,527
$13.63 PKRΒ 3,791
-6.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$6.87 PKRΒ 1,912
$15.55 PKRΒ 4,325
-55.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.59 PKRΒ 1,000
$14.33 PKRΒ 3,986
-74.95%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62 PKRΒ 1,008
$4.33 PKRΒ 1,203
-16.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$28.71 PKRΒ 7,987
$58.0 PKRΒ 16.1K
-50.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,109 PKRΒ 308.6K
$1,402 PKRΒ 389.9K
-20.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.34 PKRΒ 4,545
$17.73 PKRΒ 4,932
-7.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.71 PKRΒ 4,927
$25.51 PKRΒ 7,097
-30.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.90 PKRΒ 9,988
$64.2 PKRΒ 17.8K
-44.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.09 PKRΒ 7,259
$35.86 PKRΒ 9,976
-27.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$71.0 PKRΒ 19.7K
$122 PKRΒ 33.8K
-41.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.4 PKRΒ 14.6K
$73.9 PKRΒ 20.6K
-29.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$106 PKRΒ 29.4K
$323 PKRΒ 89.8K
-67.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.9 PKRΒ 27.8K
$182 PKRΒ 50.6K
-45.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,131 PKRΒ 314.6K
$985 PKRΒ 273.9K
14.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$556 PKRΒ 154.7K
$457 PKRΒ 127.3K
21.59%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mirpur
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$141 PKRΒ 39.3K
$181 PKRΒ 50.2K
-21.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18
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
What is the total cost difference between living in Mirpur and Karachi?
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.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mirpur and Karachi?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mirpur or Karachi?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Mirpur and Karachi?
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.
How far does $1,200 go in Mirpur vs Karachi?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Mirpur and Karachi?
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.
Where should expats move: Mirpur or Karachi?
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.

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