Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $719 in San Fernando, La Union, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
Learn more

San Fernando, La Union Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Karachi
Learn more

Karachi Living Index

Jump to prices

San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$719

/mo nomad

Karachi

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$482

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Fernando, La Union and in Karachi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Fernando, La Union and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in San Fernando, La Union versus $482 in Karachi.

San Fernando, La Union $719
Karachi $482

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in San Fernando, La Union versus $750 in Karachi.

San Fernando, La Union $1,102
Karachi $750

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,485 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,018 in Karachi.

San Fernando, La Union $1,485
Karachi $1,018

Living in San Fernando, La Union is roughly 49% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 ₱248

$2.13 PKR 588

84.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 ₱936

$13.30 PKR 3,680

11.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.45 ₱154

$5.45 PKR 1,508

-55.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PKR 607

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 PKR 2,005

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₱121

$2.09 PKR 579

-8.13%

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

$0.63 ₱39.53

$0.40 PKR 111

57.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.67

$0.26 PKR 71.1

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱72.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ₱112

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱106

$0.92 PKR 254

82.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 ₱67.7

$0.56 PKR 156

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱65.0

$1.25 PKR 345

-17.60%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱122

$1.23 PKR 341

56.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 ₱402

$5.67 PKR 1,570

12.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ₱238

$3.16 PKR 876

19.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.48 ₱471

$6.28 PKR 1,737

19.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ₱150

$1.26 PKR 348

88.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱101

$0.53 PKR 148

201.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱170

$1.00 PKR 276

171.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱76.1

$0.56 PKR 154

116.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$0.33 PKR 91.4

584.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ₱131

$0.34 PKR 95.1

508.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱62.8

$0.42 PKR 116

138.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.41

$0.44 PKR 121

31.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PKR 670

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₱187

$1.84 PKR 509

61.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 ₱451

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱70.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.89

$0.28 PKR 77.0

-10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.92 ₱687

$9.99 PKR 2,764

9.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$0.92 PKR 256

-11.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.52

$0.70 PKR 193

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 ₱111

$2.16 PKR 597

-18.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₱64.5

$1.38 PKR 382

-26.09%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

17.33%

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

$18.3K ₱1.1M

$27.1K PKR 7.5M

-32.56%

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

$109 ₱6,863

$113 PKR 31.4K

-3.92%

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

$16.96 ₱1,068

$5.95 PKR 1,648

185.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.32 ₱1,720

$13.16 PKR 3,642

107.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.83 ₱2,067

$21.55 PKR 5,965

52.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.60 ₱290

$18.23 PKR 5,044

-74.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ₱363

$4.21 PKR 1,165

36.82%

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

$114 ₱7,179

$52.2 PKR 14.4K

118.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,119 ₱574.1K

$1,940 PKR 537.0K

369.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.24 ₱2,093

$17.55 PKR 4,858

89.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.66 ₱1,112

$23.51 PKR 6,506

-24.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₱4,524

$68.9 PKR 19.1K

4.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 ₱3,503

$40.59 PKR 11.2K

37.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.5K

$118 PKR 32.7K

122.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 ₱10.7K

$73.6 PKR 20.4K

130.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 ₱32.8K

$357 PKR 98.9K

45.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ₱22.7K

$188 PKR 52.0K

92.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,558 ₱161.1K

$1,060 PKR 293.4K

141.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,037 ₱65.3K

$481 PKR 133.1K

115.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

13.21

-48.60%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: October 11, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

San Fernando, La Union

$183 25.5%

Karachi

$101 21% 44.7% $82

Accommodation & Living

San Fernando, La Union

$169 23.6%

Karachi

$74 15.3% 56.5% $96

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Fernando, La Union

$153 21.3%

Karachi

$133 27.5% 13.5% $21

Clothing & Footwear

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11.2%

Karachi

$68 14.1% 15.6% $13

Eating Out

San Fernando, La Union

$75 10.4%

Karachi

$61 12.7% 18.3% $14

Sport & Entertainment

San Fernando, La Union

$44 6.2%

Karachi

$30 6.2% 32.4% $14

Getting Around

San Fernando, La Union

$14 1.9%

Karachi

$16 3.2% 12.3% $1.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in San Fernando, La Union and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $101 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇰 Karachi

🕒 Local time

11:21 11:21 AM

08:21 8:21 AM

3 h behind San Fernando, La Union

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

83,003

14,910,352

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Fernando, La Union Karachi 5,580 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

San Fernando, La Union
Karachi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

San Fernando, La Union vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando, La Union and Karachi differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($719 vs $482 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,079 in San Fernando, La Union and $723 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in San Fernando, La Union versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $719 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $482 in Karachi – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 9% less than in San Fernando, La Union. 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.

Safety-wise, San Fernando, La Union and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in San Fernando, La Union. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.