Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $351 in Zaqatala versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $588 in Zaqatala versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $825 in Zaqatala versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Zaqatala costs roughly 23% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zaqatala 74% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 ₼8.24

$2.20 PKR 611

120.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.97 ₼35.63

$14.33 PKR 3,973

46.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 ₼8.91

$5.27 PKR 1,462

-0.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,039

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₼3.89

$2.20 PKR 610

4.09%

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

$0.58 ₼0.98

$0.33 PKR 92.3

75.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₼0.93

$0.23 PKR 63.3

139.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 ₼2.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₼4.86

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ₼1.73

$0.89 PKR 248

14.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₼0.67

$0.52 PKR 145

-23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 ₼3.87

$1.24 PKR 345

83.87%

Eggs

$1.42 ₼2.42

$1.21 PKR 335

17.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 ₼6.05

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-42.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.29 ₼3.89

$3.03 PKR 841

-24.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.35 ₼14.19

$6.11 PKR 1,695

36.66%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 ₼1.27

$1.22 PKR 339

-38.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ₼1.99

$0.55 PKR 153

112.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 ₼0.97

$0.98 PKR 272

-41.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 ₼1.17

$0.59 PKR 164

16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₼0.52

$0.34 PKR 95.1

-11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₼0.68

$0.31 PKR 85.2

29.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₼1.67

$0.39 PKR 109

153.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₼0.98

$0.43 PKR 121

34.88%

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)

$2.48 PKR 687

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 ₼2.95

$1.79 PKR 496

-2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₼15.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₼2.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₼3.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₼0.29

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,273

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 ₼1.05

$1.33 PKR 369

-53.38%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

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

$5.88 PKR 1,629

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,564

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.47 ₼58.6

$20.32 PKR 5,632

69.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,173

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,106

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,070

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,925

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ₼200

$111 PKR 30.8K

5.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 ₼141

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

16.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 ₼395

$297 PKR 82.2K

-21.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 ₼251

$180 PKR 49.9K

-17.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.5K

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 Zaqatala: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Zaqatala and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Zaqatala vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $101 per month, with Karachi 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

Zaqatala vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zaqatala and Karachi differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($351 vs $457 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $527 in Zaqatala 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: $117 in Zaqatala versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $14.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $351 per month in Zaqatala versus $457 in Karachi – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zaqatala 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, Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.