Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pablo and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $482 a month against $634 in San Pablo, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

San Pablo
🇵🇭 Philippines
$634
/mo nomad
Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$482
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Pablo 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 Pablo and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in San Pablo versus $482 in Karachi.

  • San Pablo $634
  • Karachi $482

Estimated couple costs with rent: $917 in San Pablo versus $750 in Karachi.

  • San Pablo $917
  • Karachi $750

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in San Pablo versus $1,018 in Karachi.

  • San Pablo $1,200
  • Karachi $1,018

Living in San Pablo is roughly 32% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Pablo 53% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90 ₱245
$2.13 PKR 588
83.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.47 ₱1,037
$13.30 PKR 3,680
23.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.81 ₱177
$5.45 PKR 1,508
-48.44%
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
$1.83 ₱115
$2.09 PKR 579
-12.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₱24.14
$0.40 PKR 111
-5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 ₱11.26
$0.26 PKR 71.1
-30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₱64.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₱103
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ₱105
$0.92 PKR 254
81.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 ₱69.2
$0.56 PKR 156
96.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₱59.1
$1.25 PKR 345
-24.80%
Eggs
$2.08 ₱131
$1.23 PKR 341
69.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.14 ₱324
$5.67 PKR 1,570
-9.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 ₱215
$3.16 PKR 876
7.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.73 ₱487
$6.28 PKR 1,737
23.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₱146
$1.26 PKR 348
84.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ₱88.8
$0.53 PKR 148
166.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ₱101
$1.00 PKR 276
61.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 ₱65.3
$0.56 PKR 154
85.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 ₱101
$0.33 PKR 91.4
387.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 ₱112
$0.34 PKR 95.1
423.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ₱38.28
$0.42 PKR 116
45.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₱32.95
$0.44 PKR 121
18.18%
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)
$2.84 ₱179
$1.84 PKR 509
54.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.49 ₱409
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₱60.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₱127
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.37
$0.28 PKR 77.0
-17.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.99 PKR 2,764
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 ₱51.0
$0.92 PKR 256
-11.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.79
$0.70 PKR 193
-64.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₱118
$2.16 PKR 597
-13.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₱72.5
$1.38 PKR 382
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₱1.4M
$17.9K PKR 5.0M
20.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$27.1K PKR 7.5M
-28.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 ₱9,016
$113 PKR 31.4K
26.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.84 ₱746
$5.95 PKR 1,648
98.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.37 ₱1,471
$13.16 PKR 3,642
77.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$21.55 PKR 5,965
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.23 PKR 5,044
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.13 ₱323
$4.21 PKR 1,165
21.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$132 ₱8,290
$52.2 PKR 14.4K
152.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K ₱683.6K
$1,940 PKR 537.0K
459.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.42 ₱1,852
$17.55 PKR 4,858
67.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.58 ₱1,232
$23.51 PKR 6,506
-16.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 ₱4,502
$68.9 PKR 19.1K
3.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6 ₱3,500
$40.59 PKR 11.2K
36.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$142 ₱8,963
$118 PKR 32.7K
20.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$125 ₱7,875
$73.6 PKR 20.4K
69.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 ₱13.0K
$357 PKR 98.9K
-42.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 ₱11.8K
$188 PKR 52.0K
0.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$956 ₱60.2K
$1,060 PKR 293.4K
-9.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$811 ₱51.1K
$481 PKR 133.1K
68.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pablo
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$292 ₱18.4K
$183 PKR 50.6K
59.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
13.21
-48.90%

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

Last update for San Pablo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pablo
$178
Karachi
$133 25.7% $46
Groceries & Markets
San Pablo
$166
Karachi
$101 39% $65
Accommodation & Living
San Pablo
$125
Karachi
$74 41.1% $51
Clothing & Footwear
San Pablo
$79
Karachi
$68 14.5% $12
Eating Out
San Pablo
$72
Karachi
$61 15.4% $11
Sport & Entertainment
San Pablo
$10 *
Karachi
$30 192% $20
Getting Around
San Pablo
$3 *
Karachi
$16 421% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $142 in San Pablo and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 59% 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: $16.00 in San Pablo vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $101 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 San Pablo
🇵🇰 Karachi
🕒 Local time
10:58 10:58 AM
07:58 7:58 AM
3 h behind San Pablo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
266,068
14,910,352
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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 18, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Pablo Karachi 5,780 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Pablo
  • 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 Pablo vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in San Pablo and in Karachi?
San Pablo and Karachi differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($634 vs $482 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: San Pablo or Karachi?
Average pay runs 59% higher in San Pablo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in San Pablo and in Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $142 in San Pablo versus $118 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in San Pablo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: San Pablo or Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $634 per month in San Pablo versus $482 in Karachi – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in San Pablo compared to Karachi?
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.
How does quality of life compare between San Pablo and Karachi?
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.
Is San Pablo or Karachi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, San Pablo 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.
Where should expats move: San Pablo or Karachi?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

San Pablo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?