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 $960 in Maldives.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Pakistan versus $1,551 in Maldives.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $793 in Pakistan versus $2,142 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 $45.00 to $1,519, compared to $287$537 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Maldives.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74 PKR 485
$6.17 MVR 95.1
-71.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35 PKR 3,435
$49.06 MVR 757
-74.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 PKR 1,145
$9.96 MVR 154
-58.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 486
$4.62 MVR 71.2
-62.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 PKR 1,126
$5.88 MVR 90.7
-31.12%
Cappuccino
$1.73 PKR 480
$3.06 MVR 47.25
-43.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 94.5
$1.39 MVR 21.49
-75.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.2
$0.35 MVR 5.33
-34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 PKR 225
$1.74 MVR 26.82
-53.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 165
$1.51 MVR 23.28
-60.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 336
$1.13 MVR 17.35
7.08%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 335
$1.59 MVR 24.59
-23.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.75 PKR 1,599
$7.95 MVR 123
-27.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.97 PKR 827
$6.06 MVR 93.5
-50.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.28 PKR 1,189
$9.71 MVR 150
-55.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 278
$4.06 MVR 62.5
-75.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 PKR 182
$3.66 MVR 56.5
-82.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 PKR 214
$3.76 MVR 58.0
-79.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 137
$3.57 MVR 55.0
-86.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$1.48 MVR 22.81
-74.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 135
$1.22 MVR 18.75
-60.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 106
$2.51 MVR 38.71
-84.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.7
$0.65 MVR 10.01
-44.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.97 PKR 547
$11.23 MVR 173
-82.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 PKR 308
$2.65 MVR 40.79
-58.11%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 PKR 574
$8.07 MVR 124
-74.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 PKR 568
$8.17 MVR 126
-75.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 46.72
$0.67 MVR 10.27
-74.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.03 PKR 1,955
$28.51 MVR 440
-75.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 254
$1.92 MVR 29.65
-52.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 PKR 143
$1.97 MVR 30.41
-73.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 PKR 486
$7.97 MVR 123
-78.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.98 MVR 15.06
-8.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K PKR 4.9M
$31.9K MVR 491.3K
-44.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K PKR 6.6M
$29.9K MVR 461.3K
-20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.0K
$115 MVR 1,771
-3.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.51 PKR 1,255
$41.53 MVR 640
-89.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.47 PKR 4,301
$70.0 MVR 1,079
-77.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.94 PKR 3,597
$76.6 MVR 1,181
-83.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.95 PKR 2,487
$36.00 MVR 555
-75.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 PKR 1,154
$9.39 MVR 145
-55.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.41 PKR 11.0K
$168 MVR 2,586
-76.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,155 PKR 321.2K
$3,316 MVR 51.1K
-65.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.48 PKR 4,303
$42.31 MVR 652
-63.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.74 PKR 6,600
$50.7 MVR 781
-53.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 PKR 20.2K
$81.1 MVR 1,250
-10.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.66 PKR 9,082
$54.0 MVR 833
-39.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.0K
$994 MVR 15.3K
-88.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.7 PKR 18.5K
$688 MVR 10.6K
-90.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 PKR 75.6K
$1,618 MVR 24.9K
-83.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 PKR 46.2K
$1,413 MVR 21.8K
-88.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$960 PKR 266.9K
$2,660 MVR 41.0K
-63.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$515 PKR 143.3K
$836 MVR 12.9K
-38.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$186 PKR 51.7K
$806 MVR 12.4K
-76.93%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Maldives: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $77.0 in Pakistan, $641 in Maldives. Capital cities: $197 in Islamabad vs $969 in Male.

National salary averages: $183 in Pakistan, $743 in Maldives. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 732% higher in Maldives.

Dining out costs 36% more in Maldives.

Public transport is 71% more expensive in Maldives.

Salaries are 306% 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 $782 per month in Maldives and $412 in Pakistan, there's a 90% 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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