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: $420 in Quetta versus $476 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in Quetta versus $742 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $814 in Quetta versus $1,009 in Karachi.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 12% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta 69% lower, Karachi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 PKR 1,026

$2.20 PKR 609

68.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,987

$13.66 PKR 3,785

-21.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,255

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-18.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.15 PKR 595

-15.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$7.36 PKR 2,039

-28.40%

Cappuccino

$1.59 PKR 442

$2.23 PKR 617

-28.70%

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

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.36 PKR 99.3

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.26 PKR 72.4

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.85 PKR 234

-18.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.55 PKR 154

1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.20 PKR 332

2.50%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.22 PKR 338

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,366

$6.24 PKR 1,727

-20.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 785

$3.10 PKR 860

-8.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,419

$6.36 PKR 1,761

-19.50%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.27 PKR 351

-26.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.54 PKR 150

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$1.04 PKR 287

-33.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.61 PKR 168

-9.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.0

$0.32 PKR 88.2

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.30 PKR 84.4

86.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.40 PKR 110

7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.43 PKR 120

-9.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.28 PKR 355

36.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.38 PKR 381

-21.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 788

$2.41 PKR 666

17.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 PKR 579

$1.82 PKR 503

14.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 PKR 36.35

$0.28 PKR 77.4

-53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,845

$8.08 PKR 2,239

27.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.74 PKR 205

40.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.74 PKR 204

-41.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 493

$2.11 PKR 583

-15.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.32 PKR 366

-18.94%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$18.1K PKR 5.0M

33.14%

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

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-10.68%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$109 PKR 30.2K

-5.47%

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

$8.11 PKR 2,246

$5.83 PKR 1,614

39.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,547

$12.96 PKR 3,589

26.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$21.39 PKR 5,927

-72.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 PKR 5,214

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 923

$4.25 PKR 1,178

-21.65%

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

$34.78 PKR 9,635

$50.1 PKR 13.9K

-30.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$995 PKR 275.5K

$1,571 PKR 435.2K

-36.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.08 PKR 2,237

$15.72 PKR 4,355

-48.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.81 PKR 6,318

$22.45 PKR 6,218

1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

$68.5 PKR 19.0K

3.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.10 PKR 9,446

$38.80 PKR 10.7K

-12.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$111 PKR 30.8K

-35.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

$72.9 PKR 20.2K

-31.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$327 PKR 90.5K

-49.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

$181 PKR 50.1K

-45.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.3K

$1,018 PKR 281.9K

-63.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$219 PKR 60.6K

$484 PKR 134.2K

-54.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 PKR 75.9K

$178 PKR 49.2K

54.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Karachi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.4 in Quetta and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 54% 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 $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $102 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 13% in total monthly costs ($420 vs $476 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 54% 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: $71.4 in Quetta versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $420 per month in Quetta versus $476 in Karachi – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 27% 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 13% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.