Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Skardu and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Skardu versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $661 in Skardu versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $885 in Skardu versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Skardu costs roughly 4% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Skardu 68% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 PKR 660

$2.20 PKR 611

8.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.05 PKR 3,341

$14.33 PKR 3,973

-15.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 PKR 1,319

$5.27 PKR 1,462

-9.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 778

$2.14 PKR 593

31.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 PKR 1,403

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-31.25%

Cappuccino

$1.44 PKR 399

$2.20 PKR 610

-34.55%

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

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.33 PKR 92.3

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.6

$0.23 PKR 63.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.89 PKR 248

-2.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.52 PKR 145

13.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 320

$1.24 PKR 345

-7.26%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 340

$1.21 PKR 335

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.30 PKR 1,745

$6.19 PKR 1,715

1.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 PKR 701

$3.03 PKR 841

-16.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 PKR 1,439

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-15.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.22 PKR 339

-8.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 163

$0.55 PKR 153

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.98 PKR 272

-24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.59 PKR 164

-22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.8

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.5

$0.31 PKR 85.2

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.39 PKR 109

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.43 PKR 121

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.77 PKR 492

$1.25 PKR 347

41.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.32 PKR 365

-22.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PKR 765

$2.48 PKR 687

11.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 530

$1.79 PKR 496

6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 48.91

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.63 PKR 2,393

$8.20 PKR 2,273

5.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 PKR 328

$0.74 PKR 205

59.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 PKR 213

$0.70 PKR 194

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 PKR 470

$2.20 PKR 609

-22.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 313

$1.33 PKR 369

-15.04%

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

$19.3K PKR 5.4M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

7.04%

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

$22.2K PKR 6.1M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-19.59%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-0.85%

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

$3.60 PKR 998

$5.88 PKR 1,629

-38.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.74 PKR 3,810

$12.86 PKR 3,565

6.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.51 PKR 4,023

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-28.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 PKR 1,089

$4.40 PKR 1,221

-10.68%

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

$46.28 PKR 12.8K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-8.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$951 PKR 263.8K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

-30.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.70 PKR 3,798

$14.81 PKR 4,106

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 PKR 5,302

$21.90 PKR 6,071

-12.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

26.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.62 PKR 7,935

$35.81 PKR 9,926

-20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$111 PKR 30.8K

13.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

-6.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 PKR 70.1K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-14.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 44.9K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-9.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$901 PKR 249.8K

$976 PKR 270.7K

-7.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$469 PKR 129.9K

$467 PKR 129.6K

0.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

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

Last update for Skardu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Skardu and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Skardu vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $101 per month, with Skardu 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

Skardu vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skardu and Karachi differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $457 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $656 in Skardu and $685 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: $127 in Skardu versus $111 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 Skardu versus $457 in Karachi – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 5% 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 Skardu 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, Skardu 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 Skardu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.