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: $484 in Okara versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $715 in Okara versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $947 in Okara versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Okara is roughly 6% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Okara 65% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.53 PKR 702

$2.20 PKR 611

15.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,942

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-0.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 PKR 1,588

$5.27 PKR 1,462

8.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 PKR 994

$2.14 PKR 593

67.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 PKR 1,514

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-25.82%

Cappuccino

$2.57 PKR 711

$2.20 PKR 610

16.82%

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

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.33 PKR 92.3

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.1

$0.23 PKR 63.3

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.89 PKR 248

-29.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.52 PKR 145

28.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.24 PKR 345

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.21 PKR 335

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.53 PKR 1,811

$6.19 PKR 1,715

5.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 PKR 701

$3.03 PKR 841

-16.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.85 PKR 1,344

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-20.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.22 PKR 339

-0.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.55 PKR 153

21.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 249

$0.98 PKR 272

-8.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.59 PKR 164

11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.34 PKR 95.1

-11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.9

$0.31 PKR 85.2

16.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.39 PKR 109

23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.43 PKR 121

-16.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.25 PKR 346

-12.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.32 PKR 365

-53.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PKR 476

$2.48 PKR 687

-30.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 585

$1.79 PKR 496

17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 54.9

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 PKR 2,764

$8.20 PKR 2,273

21.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.74 PKR 205

27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 193

$0.70 PKR 194

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 486

$2.20 PKR 609

-20.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PKR 244

$1.33 PKR 369

-33.83%

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

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-2.07%

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

$26.8K PKR 7.4M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-2.92%

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

$121 PKR 33.6K

$104 PKR 28.8K

16.92%

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

$5.13 PKR 1,422

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.29 PKR 4,515

$12.86 PKR 3,564

26.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.23 PKR 1,725

$20.32 PKR 5,632

-69.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,193

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-2.27%

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

$14.71 PKR 4,078

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-70.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,995 PKR 553.1K

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

45.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.16 PKR 4,756

$14.81 PKR 4,106

15.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.97 PKR 6,920

$21.90 PKR 6,070

14.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 PKR 20.6K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

14.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.44 PKR 8,160

$35.81 PKR 9,925

-17.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 PKR 31.6K

$111 PKR 30.8K

2.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.4 PKR 20.3K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

3.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 PKR 63.7K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-22.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.2K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-7.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,012 PKR 280.4K

$976 PKR 270.6K

3.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$570 PKR 158.1K

$467 PKR 129.5K

22.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$145 PKR 40.3K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-20.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

12.88

10.40%

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

Last update for Okara: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Okara and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Okara vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $101 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 6% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $457 including rent). Karachi 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: $114 in Okara versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Okara versus $457 in Karachi – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 22% less than in Okara. 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 Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Okara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.