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: $352 in Quetta versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $550 in Quetta versus $723 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $748 in Quetta versus $963 in Karachi.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 27% 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

$3.45 PKR 960

$2.15 PKR 598

60.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.69 PKR 2,972

$12.44 PKR 3,457

-14.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 PKR 1,223

$4.20 PKR 1,167

4.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.00 PKR 556

-10.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-71.14%

Cappuccino

$1.62 PKR 449

$1.83 PKR 508

-11.48%

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

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 93.4

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.23 PKR 64.2

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.81 PKR 224

-8.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.55 PKR 152

-16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.14 PKR 317

-6.14%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.16 PKR 322

-6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 PKR 1,652

$6.64 PKR 1,847

-10.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 PKR 691

$3.28 PKR 912

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 PKR 1,178

$5.18 PKR 1,440

-18.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.03 PKR 287

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.59 PKR 165

-5.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.88 PKR 245

-35.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.52 PKR 146

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.6

$0.36 PKR 99.7

-19.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.47 PKR 132

6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.38 PKR 106

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 83.3

$0.40 PKR 112

-25.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 395

$1.30 PKR 360

9.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$1.27 PKR 354

-71.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 598

$2.14 PKR 596

0.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.72 PKR 201

$2.06 PKR 573

-65.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.40

$0.36 PKR 101

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.36 PKR 1,491

$6.49 PKR 1,803

-17.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.74 PKR 207

-55.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.67 PKR 186

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$1.78 PKR 495

-3.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.87 PKR 242

10.34%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

31.12%

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

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-50.13%

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

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$135 PKR 37.6K

-61.09%

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

$6.38 PKR 1,774

$4.93 PKR 1,371

29.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.98 PKR 3,887

$13.36 PKR 3,713

4.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.09 PKR 1,415

$15.63 PKR 4,345

-67.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,614

$14.40 PKR 4,003

-59.65%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 PKR 804

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-33.56%

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

$35.09 PKR 9,756

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-39.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$424 PKR 117.8K

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

-68.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$17.69 PKR 4,918

-59.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$25.06 PKR 6,968

-72.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

38.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.19 PKR 8,116

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

-19.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

$120 PKR 33.5K

-41.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

-33.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 PKR 43.7K

$318 PKR 88.5K

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$179 PKR 49.8K

-46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$381 PKR 106.0K

$998 PKR 277.5K

-61.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$220 PKR 61.3K

$463 PKR 128.9K

-52.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 PKR 59.3K

$171 PKR 47.5K

24.75%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.9 in Quetta and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 25% 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 $98.0 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 ($352 vs $483 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Quetta pays 25% 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: $69.9 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 $352 per month in Quetta versus $483 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.