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: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 10% more expensive than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$2.20 PKR 612

-3.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,419

$14.33 PKR 3,976

11.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,634

$5.27 PKR 1,463

11.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$2.14 PKR 594

-15.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 977

$7.36 PKR 2,041

-52.17%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$2.20 PKR 610

-11.82%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.33 PKR 92.4

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.23 PKR 63.4

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.89 PKR 248

1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.52 PKR 145

5.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.24 PKR 345

-0.81%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.21 PKR 335

-8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,710

$6.19 PKR 1,716

-0.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.03 PKR 841

17.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,447

$6.11 PKR 1,696

-14.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$1.22 PKR 340

-6.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.55 PKR 153

56.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.98 PKR 272

25.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.59 PKR 164

-3.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.4

$0.34 PKR 95.2

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.31 PKR 85.3

48.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.2

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.43 PKR 121

-6.98%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,518

$1.25 PKR 347

1202.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.32 PKR 365

-9.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 682

$2.48 PKR 687

-0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$1.79 PKR 496

7.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

$0.28 PKR 77.6

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,808

$8.20 PKR 2,275

23.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.74 PKR 205

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.70 PKR 195

-45.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 877

$2.20 PKR 609

43.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$1.33 PKR 369

-15.04%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

0.99%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-9.42%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$104 PKR 28.8K

10.80%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,523

$5.88 PKR 1,631

-6.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,178

$12.86 PKR 3,567

45.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,363

$20.32 PKR 5,637

-40.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,873

$18.66 PKR 5,177

-63.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,188

$4.40 PKR 1,222

-2.73%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-3.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.1K

$1,375 PKR 381.5K

-38.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,784

$14.81 PKR 4,109

40.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,775

$21.90 PKR 6,076

27.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

39.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$35.81 PKR 9,933

1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

$111 PKR 30.8K

83.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.8K

$70.9 PKR 19.7K

15.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.6K

$297 PKR 82.3K

47.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$180 PKR 49.9K

25.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 323.0K

$976 PKR 270.9K

19.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

$467 PKR 129.6K

9.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-3.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

12.88

77.10%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $101 per month, with Karachi 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

Rawalpindi vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Karachi differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($504 vs $457 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 4% 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: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $457 in Karachi – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 23% less than in Rawalpindi. 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 Karachi 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 Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.