Cost of Living in Karachi

Karachi is heaven for elites, but going worsen/hell for lower middle class.

Karachi...a city that uses to be very prosperous and sophisticated with an educated elite has been run to the ground by the rabidly corrupt marxists of the PPP, run by the Zardari mafia, which in turn has been supported by the corrupt-to-the-core military deep state of Pakistan.

I was born and live in Karachi. Living cost for family of 4 is highly exaggerated. I have also lived in London and New York, and Karachi is much cheaper.

The Good
Without rent, a family of 4 can have a decent lifestyle in Rs.150,000 per month. This includes cost of vehicle purchase, 1-2 dine out each week, utility bills, monthly shopping, clothing, electronics, toys, school fee, cinemas/outings etc.

150,000 = 600~ USD, 750~ GBP.

Now this does not include cost of family trips to international destinations or even within Pakistan. If we add 1 annual trip and cost of rent, then you would need at least Rs.260,000 per month, which is 900~ USD or 1,100~ GBP.

You can find a pretty nice villa/bungalow on rent for 50,000 per month in a good neighborhood.

The food is amazing and varied. You can find from local cuisines to Chinese, French, Italian, Mexican. You will not find better tasting food in the west. Maybe in India?

The Bad
There is no national insurance in Pakistan, hence you would have to pay it out of pocket. Government health institutions are very bad and you should only opt for good private hospital care if you can afford it.

Also, good luck finding a job that pays more than 200,000 if you are a local. If you are living here as an overseas worker, you may be able to get a high enough salary to afford the cost of living and save. Otherwise, most people cannot afford to save.

The Ugly
The city lacks a lot of green parks as someone mentioned. There is dirt and garbage in several places piled up by the road and air quality is not the best. Traffic jams are common during rush hours and there is no mass transit system.

Crime is also rampant in the city and you should not flaunt your wealth. Mugging, robberies are higher than other big cities and law enforcement departments are incompetent and corrupt.

People consider karachi wrong they think its cheap because of foreign blogger they earn in dollars which is like 240 for 1 dollar in reality in this city an average labour make thousand to 1500 rupees a day which is like 2-4 dollars and after it cooking oil is like 700 per kg chicken is like 500 per kg petrol is 240 inflation is high wages are low i am family of 5 mom dad me and two little sister my father earn more than 200000 and it dosent even fulfill requirement completely luxury is far away if you are earning in dollars this city is really cheap if you are a local you are slowly going in poverty

Expenses for a single person living in an average area (not posh not kachi abadi) as follows: (per month)

if the Monthly Salary for a person is between 65000 - 100,000 PKR

Room (living expenses) without utility bills is between 15,000 - 30,000 PKR

Electricity cost for a single person using basic necessities is between 6,000 - 10,000 PKR

Food cost for 2 times a day (basic meal) is around 6,000 - 15,000 PKR

Water, sewerage, garbage disposal costs is 1500rps per month.

Gas cost for cooking is around 1000pkr per month.

Transportation cost (tax , rickshaw) is around 5,000 - 10,000 PKR

now the total becomes 35,000 - 55,000 PKR.

You can buy tomatoes at 3 rupees/kilo. Potatoes and onions at 12 each. Sugar at 60. Karachi is the cheapest city in the world --- cheaper than Venezuela capital city. At imtiaz supermarket 3 quarts aerated at rupees 84.

why dont you post the difference in salary between ny and karachi? the average working man in ny makes about $3500.00 while the average salary in karachi is about $250.00.