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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $723 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $963 in Karachi.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$2.15 PKR 598

112.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$12.44 PKR 3,457

274.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$4.20 PKR 1,167

101.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.83 PKR 508

65.57%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.34 PKR 93.4

102.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.23 PKR 64.2

60.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.81 PKR 224

169.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.55 PKR 152

245.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.14 PKR 317

92.98%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.16 PKR 322

91.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$6.64 PKR 1,847

201.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.28 PKR 912

11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$5.18 PKR 1,440

155.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.03 PKR 287

213.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.59 PKR 165

188.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.88 PKR 245

171.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.52 PKR 146

300.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.36 PKR 99.7

341.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.47 PKR 132

214.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.38 PKR 106

171.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.40 PKR 112

30.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 354

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 596

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.06 PKR 573

106.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.36 PKR 101

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$6.49 PKR 1,803

75.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.74 PKR 207

324.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.67 PKR 186

55.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$1.78 PKR 495

673.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.87 PKR 242

54.02%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

68.13%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

37.72%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$135 PKR 37.6K

-8.50%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$4.93 PKR 1,371

174.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$13.36 PKR 3,713

39.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$15.63 PKR 4,345

295.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$14.40 PKR 4,003

19.79%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$4.35 PKR 1,209

110.11%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

1111.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

1072.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$17.69 PKR 4,918

236.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$25.06 PKR 6,968

39.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

78.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

132.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$120 PKR 33.5K

413.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

474.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$318 PKR 88.5K

547.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$179 PKR 49.8K

743.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$998 PKR 277.5K

265.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$463 PKR 128.9K

466.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$171 PKR 47.5K

196.77%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 197% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $98.0 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 ($1,261 vs $483 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Phuket pays 197% more on average, 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: $619 in Phuket versus $120 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 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 75% 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 $1,261 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.