Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Karachi

🙂 Solo nomad: Rawalpindi is 1.1% cheaper than Karachi without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rawalpindi is 1.1% cheaper than Karachi without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80 PKR 502
$2.15 PKR 601
-16.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.33 PKR 3,997
$12.35 PKR 3,445
16.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.25 PKR 1,465
$4.22 PKR 1,178
24.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 PKR 431
$1.98 PKR 552
-22.22%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 PKR 956
$5.19 PKR 1,449
-33.91%
Cappuccino
$1.63 PKR 455
$1.88 PKR 524
-13.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 88.3
$0.34 PKR 94.2
-5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 PKR 58.6
$0.23 PKR 64.4
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 PKR 224
$0.81 PKR 225
-1.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.58 PKR 162
-3.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PKR 358
$1.13 PKR 316
13.27%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.17 PKR 326
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.27 PKR 1,749
$6.44 PKR 1,797
-2.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 PKR 908
$3.13 PKR 874
4.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.39 PKR 1,226
$5.15 PKR 1,437
-14.76%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 PKR 262
$1.07 PKR 299
-12.15%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 192
$0.55 PKR 154
25.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 237
$0.96 PKR 266
-11.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 PKR 130
$0.57 PKR 160
-17.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 PKR 102
$0.38 PKR 107
-2.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 143
$0.47 PKR 130
8.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 PKR 73.1
$0.38 PKR 107
-31.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
$0.40 PKR 112
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.97 PKR 4,457
$1.63 PKR 456
879.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 PKR 286
$1.26 PKR 352
-18.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 PKR 642
$2.04 PKR 570
12.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 PKR 537
$2.17 PKR 605
-11.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53.0
$0.33 PKR 92.8
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.85 PKR 2,749
$6.23 PKR 1,738
58.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 PKR 235
$0.74 PKR 207
13.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 PKR 92.0
$0.65 PKR 181
-49.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 PKR 834
$1.75 PKR 488
70.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 263
$0.87 PKR 242
8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K PKR 5.0M
$16.4K PKR 4.6M
8.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K PKR 6.3M
$25.3K PKR 7.0M
-9.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.9K
$134 PKR 37.4K
-22.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18 PKR 1,166
$4.86 PKR 1,355
-13.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.52 PKR 4,610
$13.64 PKR 3,807
21.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.86 PKR 2,751
$15.61 PKR 4,355
-36.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.47 PKR 2,085
$14.21 PKR 3,966
-47.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.60 PKR 1,005
$4.22 PKR 1,177
-14.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.92 PKR 11.4K
$58.1 PKR 16.2K
-29.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$965 PKR 269.3K
$1,405 PKR 392.0K
-31.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.87 PKR 3,313
$17.52 PKR 4,890
-32.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.81 PKR 5,247
$25.62 PKR 7,149
-26.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 PKR 24.2K
$65.7 PKR 18.3K
32.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.11 PKR 7,842
$35.88 PKR 10.0K
-21.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 PKR 36.5K
$118 PKR 33.0K
10.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$64.9 PKR 18.1K
$76.4 PKR 21.3K
-14.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 PKR 93.1K
$324 PKR 90.3K
3.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 PKR 48.2K
$182 PKR 50.8K
-5.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,171 PKR 326.8K
$728 PKR 203.2K
60.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$517 PKR 144.2K
$461 PKR 128.5K
12.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawalpindi
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 PKR 48.0K
$171 PKR 47.7K
0.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.17
17.8
13.31%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: April 12, 2026

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

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