Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangon (Rangoon) and Karachi

For one person, living is cheaper in Karachi: $490 a month against $775 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Yangon (Rangoon)
🇲🇲 Myanmar
$775
/mo nomad
Karachi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$490
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon) and in Karachi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $490 in Karachi.

  • Yangon (Rangoon) $775
  • Karachi $490

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,293 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $755 in Karachi.

  • Yangon (Rangoon) $1,293
  • Karachi $755

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,810 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $1,019 in Karachi.

  • Yangon (Rangoon) $1,810
  • Karachi $1,019

Living in Yangon (Rangoon) is roughly 58% more expensive than in Karachi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yangon (Rangoon) 42% lower, Karachi 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.52 MMK 5,283
$2.15 PKR 596
17.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.80 MMK 35.2K
$13.37 PKR 3,700
25.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.03 MMK 6,334
$5.29 PKR 1,464
-42.72%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.19 PKR 606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.25 PKR 2,005
-
Cappuccino
$1.65 MMK 3,459
$2.11 PKR 583
-21.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MMK 1,478
$0.37 PKR 103
91.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MMK 1,344
$0.28 PKR 78.2
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 MMK 2,052
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 MMK 4,080
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MMK 3,613
$0.86 PKR 238
101.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 MMK 2,361
$0.52 PKR 144
117.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 MMK 4,683
$1.24 PKR 344
80.65%
Eggs
$1.88 MMK 3,932
$1.24 PKR 342
51.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.32 MMK 13.2K
$5.86 PKR 1,622
7.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 MMK 9,552
$3.12 PKR 862
46.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.80 MMK 12.1K
$6.25 PKR 1,731
-7.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 MMK 9,844
$1.29 PKR 356
264.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 MMK 2,324
$0.54 PKR 150
105.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.17 MMK 8,733
$0.99 PKR 273
321.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 MMK 6,422
$0.56 PKR 155
448.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 MMK 5,454
$0.33 PKR 91.6
687.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 MMK 3,508
$0.35 PKR 95.9
380.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 MMK 2,505
$0.45 PKR 124
166.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 MMK 990
$0.44 PKR 121
6.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.23 PKR 341
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 PKR 381
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.44 PKR 676
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.68 MMK 3,514
$1.79 PKR 497
-6.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.12 MMK 19.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MMK 2,025
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MMK 2,531
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MMK 590
$0.28 PKR 76.5
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.96 MMK 25.0K
$9.68 PKR 2,679
23.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 MMK 2,154
$0.92 PKR 255
11.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 MMK 2,057
$0.71 PKR 196
38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 MMK 5,607
$2.22 PKR 615
20.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$9.07 MMK 19.0K
$1.35 PKR 372
571.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K MMK 64.0M
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
71.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.8K MMK 98.1M
$26.7K PKR 7.4M
75.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.50 MMK 101.5K
$112 PKR 30.9K
-56.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.38 MMK 15.5K
$6.05 PKR 1,673
21.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 MMK 39.5K
$13.29 PKR 3,679
41.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.31 MMK 40.4K
$21.51 PKR 5,954
-10.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.23 MMK 23.5K
$17.80 PKR 4,927
-36.91%
Cinema Ticket
$2.48 MMK 5,183
$4.42 PKR 1,222
-43.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$510 MMK 1.1M
$50.7 PKR 14.0K
905.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K MMK 36.6M
$1,957 PKR 541.6K
794.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 MMK 184.5K
$17.57 PKR 4,862
401.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.9 MMK 133.8K
$22.78 PKR 6,304
180.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 MMK 210.1K
$67.6 PKR 18.7K
48.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 MMK 271.7K
$40.97 PKR 11.3K
216.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$359 MMK 750.6K
$117 PKR 32.5K
205.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 MMK 413.7K
$75.7 PKR 21.0K
161.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,046 MMK 2.2M
$365 PKR 101.1K
186.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$544 MMK 1.1M
$182 PKR 50.5K
198.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,169 MMK 4.5M
$1,054 PKR 291.6K
105.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$933 MMK 2.0M
$491 PKR 135.8K
90.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yangon (Rangoon)
Karachi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 MMK 594.8K
$185 PKR 51.2K
53.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
13.21
-9.16%

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

Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): October 5, 2026

Last update for Karachi: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Yangon (Rangoon)
$213
Karachi
$101 52.8% $113
Accommodation & Living
Yangon (Rangoon)
$198
Karachi
$76 61.7% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Yangon (Rangoon)
$172
Karachi
$67 61% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangon (Rangoon)
$75
Karachi
$131 75.4% $56
Eating Out
Yangon (Rangoon)
$63
Karachi
$61 3.6% $2.3
Sport & Entertainment
Yangon (Rangoon)
$24
Karachi
$30 25.1% $6.1
Getting Around
Yangon (Rangoon)
$19
Karachi
$15 19.9% $3.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Yangon (Rangoon) and $117 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yangon (Rangoon) pays 54% 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: $17.00 in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $101 per month, with Karachi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇲 Yangon (Rangoon)
🇵🇰 Karachi
🕒 Local time
10:01 10:01 AM
08:31 8:31 AM
1 h 30 min behind Yangon (Rangoon)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,160,512
14,910,352
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to MMK – Myanmar Kyat Converter

Myanmar Kyat exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2,094 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.78 USD). 1 EUR = 2,348 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.26 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yangon (Rangoon) Karachi 3,150 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yangon (Rangoon)
  • 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
Yangon (Rangoon) vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yangon (Rangoon) and in Karachi?
Yangon (Rangoon) and Karachi differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($775 vs $490 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Yangon (Rangoon) or Karachi?
Average pay runs 54% higher in Yangon (Rangoon), 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 Yangon (Rangoon) and in Karachi?
Rent for a central apartment: $359 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $117 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Yangon (Rangoon) or Karachi?
All in, you'll spend $775 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $490 in Karachi – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Yangon (Rangoon) and in Karachi?
A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 24% less than in Yangon (Rangoon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,200 go in Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon) 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.
Where should expats move: Yangon (Rangoon) or Karachi?
Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Yangon (Rangoon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Yangon (Rangoon) vs other spots: cost of living compared

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