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: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $987 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 67% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.06 PKR 572

-11.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$12.56 PKR 3,487

11.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$3.99 PKR 1,108

35.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.93 PKR 537

-19.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$5.27 PKR 1,463

-33.02%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$1.81 PKR 503

-5.52%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.0

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.79 PKR 220

8.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.58 PKR 161

-8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.18 PKR 328

10.17%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.15 PKR 321

-2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$6.41 PKR 1,781

-5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 954

$3.12 PKR 867

9.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$5.09 PKR 1,413

-13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.03 PKR 286

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.60 PKR 166

15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.92 PKR 257

-7.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.57 PKR 159

-17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.50 PKR 140

4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.36 PKR 99.8

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.41 PKR 113

-4.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.25 PKR 346

1183.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$1.32 PKR 367

-25.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.06 PKR 573

16.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 532

$2.16 PKR 599

-11.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.33 PKR 92.7

-39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.43 PKR 1,785

48.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.74 PKR 206

16.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.61 PKR 170

-47.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.74 PKR 484

67.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.94 PKR 261

3.19%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

5.38%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

-9.89%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$134 PKR 37.3K

-22.83%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$5.00 PKR 1,388

-19.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$13.28 PKR 3,689

25.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$15.87 PKR 4,406

-37.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$14.35 PKR 3,984

-48.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-20.05%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

-31.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

-30.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$17.71 PKR 4,919

-32.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$25.79 PKR 7,163

-28.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

39.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,053

$35.84 PKR 9,953

-19.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$118 PKR 32.8K

12.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

-12.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$319 PKR 88.6K

3.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$181 PKR 50.3K

-5.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$932 PKR 258.7K

26.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$433 PKR 120.3K

19.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$177 PKR 49.1K

-1.33%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 1% 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 $13.00 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 ($437 vs $484 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Karachi. 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $484 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 48% 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.