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: $379 in Peshawar versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $564 in Peshawar versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $749 in Peshawar versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 20% 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

$2.23 PKR 621

$2.14 PKR 595

4.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.77 PKR 2,995

$12.44 PKR 3,461

-13.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$4.06 PKR 1,129

-11.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$1.99 PKR 553

-27.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PKR 758

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-47.70%

Cappuccino

$1.77 PKR 492

$1.89 PKR 525

-6.35%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.36 PKR 101

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 47.72

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$0.83 PKR 231

-1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.58 PKR 161

5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.13 PKR 315

-0.88%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.21 PKR 337

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 PKR 935

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-46.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 855

$3.19 PKR 887

-3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 PKR 1,017

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-25.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.03 PKR 287

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.58 PKR 162

12.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.93 PKR 258

4.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.56 PKR 156

-19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.39 PKR 108

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.51 PKR 141

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.38 PKR 107

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.1

$0.43 PKR 120

-25.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 PKR 208

$1.28 PKR 356

-41.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 PKR 435

$1.26 PKR 351

23.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 969

$2.08 PKR 580

67.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 502

$2.08 PKR 580

-13.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.28

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,918

$6.33 PKR 1,762

9.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 205

-8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.61 PKR 171

22.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$1.79 PKR 497

1.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.92 PKR 256

8.70%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

-27.42%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-6.91%

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

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-27.19%

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

$4.24 PKR 1,179

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-13.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.89 PKR 3,028

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-20.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.91 PKR 2,757

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-36.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-51.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,191

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-1.15%

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

$30.41 PKR 8,459

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-47.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$519 PKR 144.5K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-62.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.14 PKR 3,656

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-25.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 PKR 5,346

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-24.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

-40.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.48 PKR 9,035

$35.86 PKR 9,975

-9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-30.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PKR 57.4K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-36.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-47.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-4.40%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Peshawar and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 5% 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 $12.00 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 26% in total monthly costs ($379 vs $477 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 5% less. 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: $119 in Peshawar versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $379 per month in Peshawar versus $477 in Karachi – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 9% 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 26% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.