Cost of Living Comparison Between Okara and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Okara and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $296 in Okara versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $438 in Okara versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $579 in Okara versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Okara costs roughly 38% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Okara 78% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.14 PKR 595

-51.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.71 PKR 2,980

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-13.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,211

$4.06 PKR 1,129

7.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 PKR 798

$1.99 PKR 553

44.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 478

$5.22 PKR 1,452

-67.05%

Cappuccino

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.89 PKR 525

-37.04%

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

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.36 PKR 101

-2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.83 PKR 231

-13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.58 PKR 161

-25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.13 PKR 315

7.08%

Eggs

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.21 PKR 337

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.27 PKR 631

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-63.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.25 PKR 625

$3.19 PKR 887

-29.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.13 PKR 872

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-36.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 293

$1.03 PKR 287

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.58 PKR 162

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.93 PKR 258

-58.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.56 PKR 156

-16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.1

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 110

$0.38 PKR 107

2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 PKR 75.0

$0.43 PKR 120

-37.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.28 PKR 356

-26.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$1.26 PKR 351

-71.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 256

$2.08 PKR 580

-55.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 PKR 410

$2.08 PKR 580

-29.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 PKR 32.84

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.77 PKR 771

$6.33 PKR 1,762

-56.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.61 PKR 171

-19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 489

$1.79 PKR 497

-1.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.92 PKR 256

2.17%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

5.97%

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

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-6.26%

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

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-33.45%

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

$3.27 PKR 909

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.62 PKR 2,955

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-22.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.25 PKR 3,408

$15.55 PKR 4,326

-21.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 PKR 1,611

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-59.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PKR 1,158

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-3.93%

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

$13.91 PKR 3,869

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-76.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,219 PKR 339.1K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-13.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.06 PKR 4,191

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-15.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.97 PKR 5,833

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-17.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.91 PKR 8,878

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-50.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.53 PKR 8,216

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$27.90 PKR 7,761

$122 PKR 33.8K

-77.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$17.59 PKR 4,893

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-76.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$43.20 PKR 12.0K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-86.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.84 PKR 8,858

$182 PKR 50.6K

-82.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$916 PKR 254.7K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-7.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$472 PKR 131.3K

$457 PKR 127.3K

3.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.3K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-19.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

17.8

11.69%

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

Last update for Okara: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $27.90 in Okara and $122 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: $11.00 in Okara vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $68.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Okara 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

Okara vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okara and Karachi differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($296 vs $477 including rent). Okara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 25% 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: $27.90 in Okara versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $296 per month in Okara versus $477 in Karachi – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Okara runs roughly 129% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Okara 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 Okara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.