Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $449 in Pakistan versus $2,622 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Pakistan versus $3,830 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $904 in Pakistan versus $5,038 in United States.

Living in Pakistan costs about 83% less than in United States on average.

Pakistan (67% below) and United States (91% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $983 to $5,177, compared to $300–$589 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 PKR 616

$19.78 $19.78

-88.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.09 PKR 3,904

$81.4 $81.4

-82.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,472

$12.11 $12.11

-56.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 PKR 585

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PKR 1,129

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$5.44 $5.44

-63.79%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$2.67 $2.67

-87.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.6

$2.08 $2.08

-89.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$1.05 $1.05

-21.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$3.65 $3.65

-83.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$4.45 $4.45

-72.58%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 340

$4.35 $4.35

-71.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.61 PKR 1,556

$12.73 $12.73

-55.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 PKR 761

$12.46 $12.46

-78.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 PKR 1,356

$16.95 $16.95

-71.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 314

$5.30 $5.30

-78.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 184

$1.70 $1.70

-61.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 240

$4.40 $4.40

-80.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$5.01 $5.01

-88.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 88.2

$2.87 $2.87

-88.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$3.13 $3.13

-87.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 96.0

$2.32 $2.32

-84.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 112

$2.34 $2.34

-82.48%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 PKR 533

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 PKR 313

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 PKR 631

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 PKR 582

$10.55 $10.55

-80.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.59

$2.37 $2.37

-92.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.08 PKR 2,794

$65.1 $65.1

-84.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 255

$3.42 $3.42

-73.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PKR 147

$1.89 $1.89

-71.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PKR 584

$30.16 $30.16

-93.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.0M

$35.9K $35.9K

-49.36%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.74%

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

$106 PKR 29.4K

$218 $218

-51.25%

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

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$61.0 $61.0

-91.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.28 PKR 4,235

$74.8 $74.8

-79.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.96 PKR 4,423

$44.42 $44.42

-64.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 PKR 2,967

$22.53 $22.53

-52.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 PKR 1,209

$14.80 $14.80

-70.54%

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

$42.86 PKR 11.9K

$1,476 $1,476

-97.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,314 PKR 364.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

-94.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.45 PKR 4,282

$54.4 $54.4

-71.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.06 PKR 6,391

$43.59 $43.59

-47.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 PKR 21.1K

$92.9 $92.9

-18.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.87 PKR 9,110

$114 $114

-71.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 PKR 37.2K

$1,639 $1,639

-91.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.4 PKR 20.9K

$1,358 $1,358

-94.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 PKR 81.7K

$2,699 $2,699

-89.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.5K

$2,199 $2,199

-92.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,000 PKR 277.3K

$3,269 $3,269

-69.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$524 PKR 145.3K

$2,589 $2,589

-79.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 PKR 52.4K

$4,357 $4,357

-95.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.99

6.21

125.28%

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

Last update for Pakistan: August 29, 2026

Last update for United States: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $122 in Pakistan, $1,606 in United States. Capital cities: $277 in Islamabad vs $1,373 in Columbia, TN.

National salary averages: $182 in Pakistan, $4,519 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1216% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 477% more in United States.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 2383% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $445 per month in Pakistan and $3,080 in United States, there's a 593% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: 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.

Rent in United States is consistently higher than in Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.