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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 10% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.14 PKR 595

-16.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$12.44 PKR 3,461

14.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$4.06 PKR 1,129

30.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.99 PKR 553

-22.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-34.87%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$1.89 PKR 525

-8.47%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.36 PKR 101

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.83 PKR 231

-4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.58 PKR 161

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$1.13 PKR 315

8.85%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.21 PKR 337

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-3.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$3.19 PKR 887

6.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-6.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.58 PKR 162

15.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.93 PKR 258

-1.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.56 PKR 156

-16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.39 PKR 108

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.38 PKR 107

-31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.43 PKR 120

-13.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.28 PKR 356

1184.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.26 PKR 351

-17.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$2.08 PKR 580

15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.08 PKR 580

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.33 PKR 1,762

56.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.74 PKR 205

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.61 PKR 171

-42.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.79 PKR 497

65.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.92 PKR 256

4.35%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

9.68%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-7.00%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-24.05%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$4.90 PKR 1,362

-18.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$13.63 PKR 3,791

22.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-34.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-46.48%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-16.86%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-31.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-31.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$17.73 PKR 4,932

-33.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$25.51 PKR 7,097

-26.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

36.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$35.86 PKR 9,976

-20.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$122 PKR 33.8K

6.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-10.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$323 PKR 89.8K

0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-4.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$985 PKR 273.9K

19.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$457 PKR 127.3K

12.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$181 PKR 50.2K

-5.26%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $97.0, with Rawalpindi cheaper for home cooking.

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

Rawalpindi vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Karachi differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $477 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Karachi earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $477 in Karachi – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rawalpindi runs roughly 56% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.