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: $391 in Pakistan versus $2,642 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Pakistan versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in Pakistan versus $5,072 in United States.

Living in Pakistan costs about 85% less than in United States on average.

Pakistan (71% below) and United States (98% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,335 to $5,182, compared to $286–$534 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 503

$19.63 $19.63

-90.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,375

$75.4 $75.4

-83.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.29 PKR 1,190

$11.57 $11.57

-62.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 PKR 485

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PKR 1,106

Cappuccino

$1.74 PKR 482

$5.22 $5.22

-66.67%

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

$0.36 PKR 100

$2.49 $2.49

-85.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$2.06 $2.06

-89.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.09 $1.09

-28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$3.56 $3.56

-84.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$4.74 $4.74

-74.47%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$4.34 $4.34

-72.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.69 PKR 1,579

$12.68 $12.68

-55.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.84 PKR 789

$12.28 $12.28

-76.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.09 PKR 1,135

$16.60 $16.60

-75.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PKR 279

$5.16 $5.16

-80.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.70 $1.70

-64.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 PKR 212

$4.45 $4.45

-82.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$4.80 $4.80

-89.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$2.93 $2.93

-87.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$3.09 $3.09

-83.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$2.22 $2.22

-82.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$2.25 $2.25

-84.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 559

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 304

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 578

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 PKR 545

$9.90 $9.90

-80.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$2.46 $2.46

-91.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,011

$64.6 $64.6

-88.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 232

$3.77 $3.77

-77.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 145

$1.71 $1.71

-69.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 496

$30.08 $30.08

-94.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.96 $0.96

-7.29%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$29.9K $29.9K

-40.38%

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

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

$26.1K $26.1K

-9.19%

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

$110 PKR 30.5K

$210 $210

-47.70%

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

$4.58 PKR 1,270

$56.3 $56.3

-91.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.58 PKR 4,326

$72.9 $72.9

-78.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.28 PKR 3,687

$45.39 $45.39

-70.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.84 PKR 2,456

$21.60 $21.60

-59.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 PKR 1,148

$14.04 $14.04

-70.58%

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

$39.62 PKR 11.0K

$1,377 $1,377

-97.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,170 PKR 324.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

-94.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.59 PKR 4,330

$52.7 $52.7

-70.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.77 PKR 6,601

$42.41 $42.41

-43.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 PKR 20.0K

$91.8 $91.8

-21.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.15 PKR 8,928

$114 $114

-71.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 PKR 31.9K

$1,765 $1,765

-93.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.3 PKR 18.4K

$1,462 $1,462

-95.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 PKR 76.1K

$2,849 $2,849

-90.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 PKR 45.2K

$2,369 $2,369

-93.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$965 PKR 268.0K

$3,364 $3,364

-71.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 PKR 139.4K

$2,665 $2,665

-81.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 PKR 51.6K

$4,378 $4,378

-95.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.97

6.51

191.40%

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

Last update for Pakistan: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $199 in Islamabad vs $1,625 in Washington, MI.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $4,500 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1996% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 564% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 2386% 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 $410 per month in Pakistan and $3,259 in United States, there's a 695% 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.