🇵🇰 Pakistan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Karachi? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Two-bed apartment, DHA or CliftonPKR 80,000–200,000 / month, higher in the new towers
Two-bed apartment, PECHS, Gulshan-e-Iqbal or North NazimabadPKR 40,000–70,000 / month
Utilities including K-Electric and tankered water, one householdPKR 20,000–50,000 / month, with summer air conditioning the swing factor
Groceries, one personPKR 30,000–50,000 / month
Ride-hailing across the city, typical tripPKR 300–900 by car; PKR 150–350 by rickshaw
Good to know
Population
≈17–20 million in the metropolitan area — Pakistan's largest city by a wide margin and one of the largest in the world
Languages
Urdu is the lingua franca; Sindhi is the provincial language; English is the language of business, law and higher education. Karachi is also heavily Pashto-, Punjabi- and Balochi-speaking
Currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Time zone
PKT (GMT+5) — no daylight saving
Power plug
Type C and D, 230 V. Karachi is supplied by K-Electric, a private utility, not the national grid
Climate
Hot desert moderated by the sea — humid summers around 35–40°C, mild winters, very little rain except in an occasional intense monsoon spell
Driving side
Left
Working week
Monday to Friday or Saturday depending on sector; Friday afternoon prayers pause the working day around 1–2 pm
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Karachi checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Karachi
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.