🙂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: Pakistan71% lower, Maldives28% 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
$1.72PKR 479
$6.18MVR 95.4
-72.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.23PKR 3,410
$48.62MVR 751
-74.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.15PKR 1,156
$9.65MVR 149
-56.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 503
$4.68MVR 72.2
-61.54%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03PKR 1,123
$5.98MVR 92.3
-32.61%
Cappuccino
$1.73PKR 481
$3.03MVR 46.78
-42.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 92.8
$1.43MVR 22.17
-76.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.5
$0.31MVR 4.87
-32.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81PKR 226
$1.75MVR 26.97
-53.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.50MVR 23.22
-63.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20PKR 336
$1.11MVR 17.12
8.11%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 337
$1.59MVR 24.53
-23.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.94PKR 1,655
$7.85MVR 121
-24.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95PKR 823
$6.07MVR 93.8
-51.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.22PKR 1,178
$9.89MVR 153
-57.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05PKR 293
$4.13MVR 63.8
-74.58%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62PKR 173
$3.76MVR 58.1
-83.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81PKR 227
$3.75MVR 57.9
-78.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$3.44MVR 53.2
-84.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 100
$1.43MVR 22.07
-74.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 135
$1.20MVR 18.61
-60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39PKR 108
$2.48MVR 38.32
-84.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.64MVR 9.95
-39.06%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.98PKR 553
$11.15MVR 172
-82.24%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 308
$2.75MVR 42.50
-59.64%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07PKR 578
$8.29MVR 128
-75.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97PKR 550
$7.98MVR 123
-75.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 44.50
$0.62MVR 9.64
-74.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.00PKR 1,950
$27.79MVR 429
-74.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90PKR 250
$1.89MVR 29.23
-52.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51PKR 143
$1.93MVR 29.88
-73.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.74PKR 485
$8.17MVR 126
-78.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 252
$0.91MVR 14.10
-1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
$32.4KMVR 500.4K
-44.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
$29.9KMVR 461.4K
-20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111PKR 30.8K
$117MVR 1,807
-5.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.75PKR 1,324
$40.79MVR 630
-88.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.51PKR 4,323
$72.8MVR 1,125
-78.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.30PKR 3,708
$75.0MVR 1,159
-82.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.50PKR 2,369
$35.04MVR 541
-75.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,177
$9.18MVR 142
-54.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$39.14PKR 10.9K
$172MVR 2,651
-77.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,145PKR 319.1K
$3,338MVR 51.6K
-65.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.80PKR 4,403
$42.54MVR 657
-62.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.72PKR 6,613
$50.4MVR 779
-52.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3PKR 20.1K
$82.1MVR 1,268
-11.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.09PKR 9,224
$54.1MVR 836
-38.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$114PKR 31.7K
$1,004MVR 15.5K
-88.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$67.1PKR 18.7K
$696MVR 10.7K
-90.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280PKR 78.1K
$1,677MVR 25.9K
-83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 45.9K
$1,414MVR 21.8K
-88.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$888PKR 247.7K
$2,624MVR 40.5K
-66.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$530PKR 147.9K
$1,062MVR 16.4K
-50.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$188PKR 52.4K
$787MVR 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.