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: $365 in Mirpur versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $554 in Mirpur versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $743 in Mirpur versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Mirpur costs roughly 20% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mirpur 73% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 492

$2.20 PKR 611

-19.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.42 PKR 2,058

$14.33 PKR 3,974

-48.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 PKR 1,506

$5.27 PKR 1,462

3.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 PKR 308

$2.14 PKR 593

-48.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 PKR 494

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-75.82%

Cappuccino

$1.10 PKR 304

$2.20 PKR 610

-50.00%

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

$0.47 PKR 130

$0.33 PKR 92.3

42.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.3

$0.23 PKR 63.3

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.89 PKR 248

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.52 PKR 145

13.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.24 PKR 345

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.21 PKR 335

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 PKR 976

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-43.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 PKR 736

$3.03 PKR 841

-12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,094

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-35.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.22 PKR 339

-11.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.55 PKR 153

12.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.98 PKR 272

-45.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.59 PKR 164

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.3

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.31 PKR 85.2

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.39 PKR 109

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.43 PKR 121

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.25 PKR 347

43.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.32 PKR 365

-20.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 PKR 785

$2.48 PKR 687

14.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 PKR 560

$1.79 PKR 496

12.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.81

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.78 PKR 2,713

$8.20 PKR 2,274

19.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.74 PKR 205

48.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 58.1

$0.70 PKR 194

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 822

$2.20 PKR 609

35.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$1.33 PKR 369

-26.32%

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

$8,886 PKR 2.5M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-50.77%

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

$14.5K PKR 4.0M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-47.51%

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

$68.2 PKR 18.9K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-34.28%

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

$5.72 PKR 1,585

$5.88 PKR 1,630

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.71 PKR 4,078

$12.86 PKR 3,565

14.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.03 PKR 4,167

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-26.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$18.66 PKR 5,174

-80.49%

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 PKR 983

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-19.32%

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

$26.62 PKR 7,382

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-47.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,058 PKR 570.6K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

49.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.76 PKR 4,925

$14.81 PKR 4,107

19.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.12 PKR 5,025

$21.90 PKR 6,072

-17.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.39 PKR 10.1K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-44.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.79 PKR 7,981

$35.81 PKR 9,927

-19.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$111 PKR 30.8K

14.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 PKR 21.8K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

10.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.8K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-13.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 41.9K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-15.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$863 PKR 239.3K

$976 PKR 270.7K

-11.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 PKR 138.4K

$467 PKR 129.6K

6.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.2K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-20.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

12.88

-8.15%

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

Last update for Mirpur: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Mirpur and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 25% 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 $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 vs $101 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 25% in total monthly costs ($365 vs $457 including rent). Mirpur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 25% 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: $127 in Mirpur versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $365 per month in Mirpur versus $457 in Karachi – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mirpur runs roughly 19% 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 25% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.