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: $346 in Quetta versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $537 in Quetta versus $731 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $728 in Quetta versus $979 in Karachi.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 28% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 PKR 977

$2.06 PKR 572

70.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,950

$12.15 PKR 3,373

-12.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 PKR 1,216

$4.00 PKR 1,111

9.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.92 PKR 533

-10.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

$5.33 PKR 1,478

-70.92%

Cappuccino

$1.70 PKR 471

$1.85 PKR 513

-8.11%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.33 PKR 92.7

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.4

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.84 PKR 232

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.58 PKR 162

-20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.12 PKR 310

-8.04%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.17 PKR 325

-4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,644

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-5.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 716

$3.18 PKR 884

-18.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 PKR 1,143

$5.03 PKR 1,396

-18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.05 PKR 291

-0.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$0.59 PKR 165

-6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.92 PKR 256

-38.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.2

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.47 PKR 130

2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.35 PKR 97.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.44 PKR 121

-27.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 402

$1.29 PKR 358

12.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$1.27 PKR 353

-73.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 PKR 581

$2.05 PKR 569

1.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 192

$2.08 PKR 578

-66.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.93

$0.36 PKR 100

-55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.23 PKR 1,453

$6.42 PKR 1,782

-18.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.69 PKR 190

-47.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 171

$0.66 PKR 184

-6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.73 PKR 480

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 268

$0.92 PKR 254

5.43%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$16.8K PKR 4.7M

28.09%

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

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

-50.94%

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

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$133 PKR 36.8K

-60.36%

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

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$4.86 PKR 1,349

31.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.32 PKR 3,975

$13.62 PKR 3,779

5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.96 PKR 1,378

$15.31 PKR 4,250

-67.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.76 PKR 1,600

$14.55 PKR 4,038

-60.41%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 PKR 805

$4.11 PKR 1,142

-29.44%

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

$34.09 PKR 9,461

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

-40.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$417 PKR 115.7K

$1,387 PKR 385.0K

-69.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.98 PKR 1,937

$17.46 PKR 4,847

-60.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.24 PKR 2,010

$25.90 PKR 7,188

-72.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

$63.6 PKR 17.6K

36.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.59 PKR 8,213

$36.40 PKR 10.1K

-18.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

$119 PKR 33.0K

-41.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

$75.6 PKR 21.0K

-34.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$318 PKR 88.2K

-50.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

$185 PKR 51.3K

-47.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.2K

$912 PKR 253.2K

-58.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$214 PKR 59.3K

$442 PKR 122.5K

-51.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 PKR 75.3K

$179 PKR 49.7K

51.55%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.8 in Quetta and $119 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 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 40% in total monthly costs ($346 vs $483 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Quetta, 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: $69.8 in Quetta versus $119 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $346 per month in Quetta versus $483 in Karachi – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 23% 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 40% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.