Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $348 in Quetta versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $548 in Quetta versus $732 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $747 in Quetta versus $988 in Karachi.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 27% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta 74% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 PKR 963

$2.11 PKR 588

63.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 PKR 2,926

$12.18 PKR 3,400

-13.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,265

$4.21 PKR 1,176

7.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.92 PKR 537

-5.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 434

$5.37 PKR 1,498

-71.14%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 464

$1.81 PKR 504

-8.29%

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

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.34 PKR 94.3

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.21 PKR 58.5

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 PKR 191

$0.84 PKR 235

-19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.54 PKR 152

-18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 289

$1.13 PKR 316

-8.85%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.16 PKR 324

-2.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,726

$6.36 PKR 1,774

-2.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 722

$3.18 PKR 889

-18.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.21 PKR 1,176

$5.13 PKR 1,431

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.05 PKR 293

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.58 PKR 163

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.94 PKR 261

-40.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 144

$0.56 PKR 157

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.39 PKR 108

-20.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.47 PKR 131

6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.36 PKR 99.8

-2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.5

$0.43 PKR 121

-25.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 404

$1.41 PKR 393

2.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$1.30 PKR 363

-73.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 PKR 586

$2.05 PKR 572

2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 193

$2.18 PKR 609

-68.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.36 PKR 102

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.42 PKR 1,514

$6.54 PKR 1,825

-17.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.74 PKR 207

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 183

$0.62 PKR 174

4.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$1.76 PKR 491

3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.94 PKR 264

2.13%

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

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$16.3K PKR 4.6M

29.28%

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

$12.4K PKR 3.5M

$25.0K PKR 7.0M

-50.23%

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

$53.8 PKR 15.0K

$137 PKR 38.3K

-60.82%

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

$6.39 PKR 1,784

$4.99 PKR 1,392

28.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$13.58 PKR 3,792

5.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.99 PKR 1,392

$15.81 PKR 4,413

-68.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,675

$14.27 PKR 3,983

-57.95%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 PKR 781

$4.29 PKR 1,197

-34.73%

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

$34.87 PKR 9,734

$58.8 PKR 16.4K

-40.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$426 PKR 118.8K

$1,373 PKR 383.3K

-69.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,016

$17.85 PKR 4,982

-59.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.20 PKR 2,010

$25.82 PKR 7,206

-72.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 PKR 24.4K

$64.9 PKR 18.1K

34.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.40 PKR 8,206

$36.34 PKR 10.1K

-19.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.8K

$120 PKR 33.6K

-41.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$48.89 PKR 13.6K

$75.1 PKR 21.0K

-34.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 PKR 44.5K

$321 PKR 89.6K

-50.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.4 PKR 27.5K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-46.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$384 PKR 107.1K

$751 PKR 209.5K

-48.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$221 PKR 61.7K

$465 PKR 129.9K

-52.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 PKR 60.3K

$167 PKR 46.6K

29.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

-32.58%

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

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Last update for Karachi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.0 in Quetta and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $10.00 in Quetta vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Quetta 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

Quetta vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quetta and Karachi differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($348 vs $476 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Quetta pays 29% 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: $71.0 in Quetta versus $120 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $348 per month in Quetta versus $476 in Karachi – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 21% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Quetta 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 Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.