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: $377 in Skardu versus $481 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $576 in Skardu versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $775 in Skardu versus $989 in Karachi.

Living in Skardu costs roughly 22% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Skardu 72% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 497

$2.08 PKR 577

-13.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.50 PKR 2,916

$12.33 PKR 3,424

-14.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,149

$4.17 PKR 1,159

-0.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 479

$2.00 PKR 555

-13.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 PKR 998

$5.24 PKR 1,456

-31.49%

Cappuccino

$0.42 PKR 117

$1.87 PKR 519

-77.54%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.9

$0.37 PKR 102

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.2

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$0.81 PKR 224

-4.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.54 PKR 151

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.12 PKR 312

8.04%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.22 PKR 340

-4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.00 PKR 1,665

$6.40 PKR 1,776

-6.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 PKR 721

$3.25 PKR 904

-20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.71 PKR 1,031

$5.06 PKR 1,403

-26.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 290

$1.03 PKR 287

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.59 PKR 163

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.87 PKR 242

-22.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 95.9

$0.39 PKR 108

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.50 PKR 139

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.6

$0.36 PKR 99.1

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.44 PKR 122

-18.18%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.55 PKR 429

$1.25 PKR 346

24.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 259

$1.28 PKR 354

-27.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 560

$2.16 PKR 599

-6.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 PKR 550

$2.13 PKR 592

-7.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.5

$0.34 PKR 94.2

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,972

$6.21 PKR 1,725

14.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 233

$0.70 PKR 193

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.67 PKR 187

-40.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.82 PKR 505

-2.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 265

$0.87 PKR 242

10.34%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$16.6K PKR 4.6M

28.92%

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

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-9.51%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$132 PKR 36.7K

-22.91%

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

$7.09 PKR 1,969

$5.02 PKR 1,394

41.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.40 PKR 3,165

$13.36 PKR 3,708

-14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.46 PKR 3,458

$15.80 PKR 4,386

-21.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 PKR 1,670

$14.58 PKR 4,048

-58.71%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,006

$4.29 PKR 1,190

-15.62%

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

$29.27 PKR 8,128

$57.6 PKR 16.0K

-49.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,105 PKR 306.7K

$1,373 PKR 381.2K

-19.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.31 PKR 4,250

$17.75 PKR 4,928

-13.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 PKR 6,091

$25.14 PKR 6,980

-12.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 PKR 19.1K

$65.0 PKR 18.1K

5.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.93 PKR 8,033

$35.37 PKR 9,819

-18.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.5K

$122 PKR 33.9K

-39.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

-28.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 PKR 46.7K

$313 PKR 87.0K

-46.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 29.9K

$179 PKR 49.7K

-39.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 PKR 270.5K

$918 PKR 254.8K

6.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 PKR 134.2K

$443 PKR 122.9K

9.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 PKR 49.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

6.74%

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

Last update for Skardu: July 20, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Skardu and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Skardu vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $97.0 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 28% in total monthly costs ($377 vs $481 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $566 in Skardu and $722 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: $73.9 in Skardu versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $377 per month in Skardu versus $481 in Karachi – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 14% 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 28% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.