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: $382 in Skardu versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Skardu versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $765 in Skardu versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Skardu costs roughly 20% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Skardu 71% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$2.14 PKR 596

-18.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,956

$12.44 PKR 3,462

-14.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 PKR 1,144

$4.06 PKR 1,129

1.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.99 PKR 553

-9.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PKR 1,001

$5.22 PKR 1,452

-31.03%

Cappuccino

$0.46 PKR 128

$1.89 PKR 525

-75.66%

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

$0.35 PKR 96.2

$0.36 PKR 101

-2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.83 PKR 231

-12.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.58 PKR 161

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.13 PKR 315

7.08%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.21 PKR 337

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PKR 1,710

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-2.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 PKR 710

$3.19 PKR 887

-20.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.63 PKR 1,011

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-26.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$1.03 PKR 288

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.58 PKR 162

13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.93 PKR 258

-34.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.56 PKR 156

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.39 PKR 108

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.51 PKR 141

-7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.38 PKR 107

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.43 PKR 120

-16.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 PKR 378

$1.28 PKR 356

6.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.26 PKR 351

-30.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 568

$2.08 PKR 580

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.08 PKR 580

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 54.3

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-44.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.91 PKR 1,923

$6.33 PKR 1,762

9.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.74 PKR 205

21.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.61 PKR 171

-32.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PKR 486

$1.79 PKR 497

-2.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.92 PKR 256

6.52%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

29.46%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

-6.72%

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

$102 PKR 28.4K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-22.83%

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

$7.18 PKR 1,999

$4.90 PKR 1,363

46.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.13 PKR 3,096

$13.63 PKR 3,792

-18.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.57 PKR 3,498

$15.55 PKR 4,327

-19.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 PKR 1,624

$14.33 PKR 3,987

-59.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 PKR 1,006

$4.33 PKR 1,204

-16.63%

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

$29.43 PKR 8,188

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-49.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 PKR 304.5K

$1,402 PKR 390.0K

-21.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.31 PKR 4,259

$17.73 PKR 4,934

-13.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 PKR 6,131

$25.51 PKR 7,099

-13.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 PKR 19.2K

$64.2 PKR 17.9K

7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.47 PKR 8,200

$35.86 PKR 9,979

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-29.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.5K

$323 PKR 89.9K

-48.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-40.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$917 PKR 255.1K

$985 PKR 274.0K

-6.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 PKR 157.9K

$457 PKR 127.3K

24.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.0 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 $86.0 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 25% in total monthly costs ($382 vs $477 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $573 in Skardu and $715 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: $74.0 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 $382 per month in Skardu versus $477 in Karachi – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Skardu runs roughly 9% 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 25% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.