Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Peshawar versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $600 in Peshawar versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Peshawar versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 9% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 70% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.20 PKR 612

11.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.76 PKR 2,431

$14.33 PKR 3,976

-38.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 PKR 1,324

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-9.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PKR 614

$2.14 PKR 594

3.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 PKR 796

$7.36 PKR 2,041

-61.01%

Cappuccino

$1.25 PKR 346

$2.20 PKR 610

-43.18%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.33 PKR 92.4

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.46

$0.23 PKR 63.4

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.89 PKR 248

10.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.52 PKR 145

42.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.24 PKR 345

-12.90%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.21 PKR 335

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 PKR 957

$6.19 PKR 1,716

-44.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 861

$3.03 PKR 841

2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$6.11 PKR 1,696

-40.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.22 PKR 340

0.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.55 PKR 153

-7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.98 PKR 272

-35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.59 PKR 164

-22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.0

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.31 PKR 85.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.39 PKR 109

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 68.5

$0.43 PKR 121

-41.86%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 540

$1.25 PKR 347

55.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.32 PKR 365

-46.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$2.48 PKR 687

-70.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.79 PKR 496

3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.28 PKR 77.6

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 PKR 3,516

$8.20 PKR 2,275

54.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.74 PKR 205

48.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 PKR 404

$2.20 PKR 609

-33.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.33 PKR 369

-16.54%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

26.50%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-9.34%

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

$101 PKR 28.2K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-2.22%

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

$5.77 PKR 1,600

$5.88 PKR 1,631

-1.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.47 PKR 4,016

$12.86 PKR 3,567

12.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,314

$20.32 PKR 5,637

-23.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$18.66 PKR 5,177

-67.58%

Cinema Ticket

$1.92 PKR 534

$4.40 PKR 1,222

-56.36%

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

$46.40 PKR 12.9K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-7.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,981 PKR 1.4M

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

262.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.10 PKR 1,969

$14.81 PKR 4,109

-52.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.36 PKR 4,540

$21.90 PKR 6,076

-25.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.09 PKR 10.8K

$35.81 PKR 9,933

9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$111 PKR 30.8K

13.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

11.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$297 PKR 82.3K

-32.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-33.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-16.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

-14.60%

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

Last update for Peshawar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Peshawar and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Peshawar vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $101 per month, with Peshawar cheaper across the board.

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

Peshawar vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar and Karachi differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($417 vs $457 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Karachi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $127 in Peshawar versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Peshawar versus $457 in Karachi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 55% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Peshawar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.