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: $365 in Zaqatala versus $484 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $599 in Zaqatala versus $735 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $833 in Zaqatala versus $987 in Karachi.

Living in Zaqatala costs roughly 25% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zaqatala 73% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 ₼9.05

$2.06 PKR 571

158.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.68 ₼35.15

$12.56 PKR 3,482

64.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₼11.84

$3.99 PKR 1,107

74.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 536

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₼4.03

$1.81 PKR 502

30.94%

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

$0.56 ₼0.96

$0.33 PKR 92.6

69.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₼0.94

$0.21 PKR 58.0

161.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₼3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₼4.89

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₼1.66

$0.79 PKR 220

24.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₼0.67

$0.58 PKR 161

-32.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₼3.72

$1.18 PKR 328

85.59%

Eggs

$1.37 ₼2.33

$1.15 PKR 320

19.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.49 ₼5.93

$6.41 PKR 1,779

-45.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.40 ₼4.07

$3.12 PKR 866

-23.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 ₼13.58

$5.09 PKR 1,411

56.97%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.24

$1.03 PKR 286

-29.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ₼1.96

$0.60 PKR 166

91.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 ₼1.04

$0.92 PKR 256

-33.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 ₼1.27

$0.57 PKR 159

29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₼0.52

$0.35 PKR 98.1

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₼0.68

$0.50 PKR 140

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₼1.54

$0.36 PKR 99.6

152.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₼0.95

$0.41 PKR 113

36.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 ₼3.06

$2.16 PKR 598

-16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 ₼15.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₼0.34

$0.33 PKR 92.6

-39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,783

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 483

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₼1.03

$0.94 PKR 261

-35.11%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

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

$5.00 PKR 1,386

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,684

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.16 ₼56.4

$15.87 PKR 4,401

108.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,979

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,205

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,912

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,153

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,940

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 ₼202

$118 PKR 32.8K

0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.9 ₼137

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

8.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₼407

$319 PKR 88.5K

-24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 ₼248

$181 PKR 50.2K

-19.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

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

Last update for Zaqatala: July 13, 2026

Last update for Karachi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Zaqatala and $118 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Zaqatala vs $13.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $97.0 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 33% in total monthly costs ($365 vs $484 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $547 in Zaqatala and $726 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: $119 in Zaqatala versus $118 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 $13.00 in Karachi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $365 per month in Zaqatala versus $484 in Karachi – a 33% 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 33% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.