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: $372 in Peshawar versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $554 in Peshawar versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $736 in Peshawar versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 23% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 72% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 PKR 651

$2.06 PKR 572

13.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.75 PKR 2,985

$12.56 PKR 3,487

-14.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 PKR 1,000

$3.99 PKR 1,108

-9.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 PKR 398

$1.93 PKR 537

-25.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 PKR 725

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-50.47%

Cappuccino

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.81 PKR 503

0.55%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 PKR 49.01

$0.21 PKR 58.0

-14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 225

$0.79 PKR 220

2.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.58 PKR 161

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.18 PKR 328

-5.08%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 330

$1.15 PKR 321

3.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 PKR 939

$6.41 PKR 1,781

-47.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 PKR 872

$3.12 PKR 867

0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 PKR 1,051

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-25.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.03 PKR 286

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.60 PKR 166

1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 255

$0.92 PKR 257

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.57 PKR 159

-24.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.35 PKR 98.2

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.50 PKR 140

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.36 PKR 99.8

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.8

$0.41 PKR 113

-21.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 PKR 190

$1.25 PKR 346

-45.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PKR 452

$1.32 PKR 367

23.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 999

$2.06 PKR 573

74.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 PKR 522

$2.16 PKR 599

-12.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,918

$6.43 PKR 1,785

7.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 206

-6.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.61 PKR 170

19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.74 PKR 484

4.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.94 PKR 261

6.38%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

-28.65%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-10.73%

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

$98.5 PKR 27.3K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-26.73%

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

$4.32 PKR 1,201

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-13.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.62 PKR 2,949

$13.28 PKR 3,689

-20.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.96 PKR 2,766

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-37.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 PKR 1,850

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-53.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 PKR 1,165

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-3.46%

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

$29.39 PKR 8,162

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-49.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$518 PKR 143.7K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

-61.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.06 PKR 3,628

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-26.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PKR 5,448

$25.79 PKR 7,163

-23.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.69 PKR 10.7K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-39.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.49 PKR 9,022

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-9.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.2K

$118 PKR 32.8K

1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-30.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PKR 56.1K

$319 PKR 88.6K

-36.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.0 PKR 26.4K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-47.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.5K

$177 PKR 49.1K

-27.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

17.8

18.93%

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

Last update for Peshawar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Peshawar and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 39% 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: $11.00 in Peshawar vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $97.0 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 30% in total monthly costs ($372 vs $484 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 39% 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: $120 in Peshawar versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $372 per month in Peshawar versus $484 in Karachi – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 7% 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 30% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.