Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 161% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$2.06 PKR 572

117.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$12.15 PKR 3,373

275.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$4.00 PKR 1,111

119.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PKR 533

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 PKR 1,478

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.85 PKR 513

60.54%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.33 PKR 92.7

109.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.23 PKR 64.0

69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$0.84 PKR 232

155.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.58 PKR 162

213.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.12 PKR 310

94.64%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.17 PKR 325

92.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$6.28 PKR 1,744

218.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.18 PKR 884

14.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$5.03 PKR 1,396

169.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$1.05 PKR 291

208.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$0.59 PKR 165

177.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.92 PKR 256

153.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.54 PKR 149

283.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.35 PKR 98.2

342.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.47 PKR 130

210.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.35 PKR 97.8

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.44 PKR 121

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 PKR 358

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 353

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PKR 569

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.08 PKR 578

109.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.36 PKR 100

294.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$6.42 PKR 1,782

80.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.69 PKR 190

359.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.66 PKR 184

56.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$1.73 PKR 480

702.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.92 PKR 254

45.65%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

65.24%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

34.87%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$133 PKR 36.8K

-7.22%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$4.86 PKR 1,349

183.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$13.62 PKR 3,779

34.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$15.31 PKR 4,250

296.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$14.55 PKR 4,038

17.94%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$4.11 PKR 1,142

115.82%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

1096.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

1037.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$17.46 PKR 4,847

239.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$25.90 PKR 7,188

33.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

81.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

130.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$119 PKR 33.0K

421.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

489.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$318 PKR 88.2K

540.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$185 PKR 51.3K

710.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

$912 PKR 253.2K

278.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

$442 PKR 122.5K

473.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$179 PKR 49.7K

175.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

17.8

-70.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 176% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $97.0 per month, with Karachi 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

Phuket vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Karachi differ by about 161% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $483 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 176% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $483 in Karachi – a 161% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 80% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $483 in Karachi versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.