Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Maldives Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Maldives

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $391 in Pakistan versus $965 in Maldives.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $593 in Pakistan versus $1,560 in Maldives.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Pakistan versus $2,154 in Maldives.

Living in Pakistan costs about 59% less than in Maldives on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 71% lower, Maldives 28% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Maldives: monthly costs span $44.00 to $1,528, compared to $292$543 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Maldives.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 PKR 479
$6.18 MVR 95.4
-72.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.23 PKR 3,410
$48.62 MVR 751
-74.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.15 PKR 1,156
$9.65 MVR 149
-56.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 PKR 503
$4.68 MVR 72.2
-61.54%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 PKR 1,123
$5.98 MVR 92.3
-32.61%
Cappuccino
$1.73 PKR 481
$3.03 MVR 46.78
-42.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 PKR 92.8
$1.43 MVR 22.17
-76.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.5
$0.31 MVR 4.87
-32.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 226
$1.75 MVR 26.97
-53.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 PKR 152
$1.50 MVR 23.22
-63.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 336
$1.11 MVR 17.12
8.11%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 337
$1.59 MVR 24.53
-23.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.94 PKR 1,655
$7.85 MVR 121
-24.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 PKR 823
$6.07 MVR 93.8
-51.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.22 PKR 1,178
$9.89 MVR 153
-57.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 PKR 293
$4.13 MVR 63.8
-74.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 173
$3.76 MVR 58.1
-83.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 PKR 227
$3.75 MVR 57.9
-78.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 145
$3.44 MVR 53.2
-84.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 100
$1.43 MVR 22.07
-74.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 135
$1.20 MVR 18.61
-60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 PKR 108
$2.48 MVR 38.32
-84.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 108
$0.64 MVR 9.95
-39.06%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.98 PKR 553
$11.15 MVR 172
-82.24%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 PKR 308
$2.75 MVR 42.50
-59.64%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 PKR 578
$8.29 MVR 128
-75.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 PKR 550
$7.98 MVR 123
-75.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 44.50
$0.62 MVR 9.64
-74.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.00 PKR 1,950
$27.79 MVR 429
-74.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 PKR 250
$1.89 MVR 29.23
-52.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 PKR 143
$1.93 MVR 29.88
-73.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 PKR 485
$8.17 MVR 126
-78.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 252
$0.91 MVR 14.10
-1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
$32.4K MVR 500.4K
-44.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K PKR 6.6M
$29.9K MVR 461.4K
-20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 30.8K
$117 MVR 1,807
-5.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.75 PKR 1,324
$40.79 MVR 630
-88.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.51 PKR 4,323
$72.8 MVR 1,125
-78.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.30 PKR 3,708
$75.0 MVR 1,159
-82.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.50 PKR 2,369
$35.04 MVR 541
-75.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22 PKR 1,177
$9.18 MVR 142
-54.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.14 PKR 10.9K
$172 MVR 2,651
-77.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,145 PKR 319.1K
$3,338 MVR 51.6K
-65.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.80 PKR 4,403
$42.54 MVR 657
-62.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.72 PKR 6,613
$50.4 MVR 779
-52.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 PKR 20.1K
$82.1 MVR 1,268
-11.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.09 PKR 9,224
$54.1 MVR 836
-38.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$114 PKR 31.7K
$1,004 MVR 15.5K
-88.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$67.1 PKR 18.7K
$696 MVR 10.7K
-90.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 PKR 78.1K
$1,677 MVR 25.9K
-83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$165 PKR 45.9K
$1,414 MVR 21.8K
-88.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$888 PKR 247.7K
$2,624 MVR 40.5K
-66.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$530 PKR 147.9K
$1,062 MVR 16.4K
-50.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$188 PKR 52.4K
$787 MVR 12.2K
-76.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.97
12.4
52.98%

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

Last update for Pakistan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Maldives: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $638 in Maldives. Capital cities: $200 in Islamabad vs $941 in Male.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $738 in Maldives. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 718% higher in Maldives.

Dining out costs 36% more in Maldives.

Public transport is 71% more expensive in Maldives.

Salaries are 308% higher in Maldives, giving Maldives stronger purchasing power.

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
Pakistan vs Maldives: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Maldives or Pakistan?
At $786 per month in Maldives and $418 in Pakistan, there's a 88% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Maldives or Pakistan?
Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Maldives and Pakistan?
Rent in Maldives beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,000 go in Maldives vs Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Maldives, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Maldives and Pakistan?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Maldives may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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