Cost of Living in Karachi

I am from Karachi, living in London, England for many years. I left Karachi in '61. It was the golden period for Pakistan and for Karachi in particular. Karachi was very clean, well organized and a very tolerant city. It accommodated and welcomed all. There were bars, restaurants, hotels and picture houses. Elphinston Street had the best shops. Khayam Cinema and Cafe, fully air-conditioned, showed English films. Clifton was a real place to enjoy life, especially, after sunset till midnight, swimming by the moonlight. It was a jewel of a beach. The sea used shimmer like a wavy gold-leaf. Yes, my Karachi was a Jewel.
I worked for the PIA at a salary of Rs 320 / month. I had my own small flat in a house, a woman to clean and cook, a bicycle to ride and loads of friends to enjoy. The US$ was 4.13 and the £ was 13.45. My first visit to Pakistan / Karachi was in 1993. It had become a slum. My last visit was in 2002. Although, my family and friends enjoy a lavish life style, whereas, an ordinary person's life is nothing but a total misery. Karachi earns almost 40% of Pakistan's GDP, yet she is treated like step child. It is crime infested, dirty, expensive and has become very intolerant. Corrupt Politicians and the Mullah have devastated a jewel of a city. It is very sad. As long as the Mullah prevails, Muslims shall remain wretched, uneducated, disease ridden and destitute.

Karachi is not cheap. Those who says that karachi is cheap then you should also tell that what is the quality of life they are living.

Expenses for 1 person as follows:

Montly Salary for a person who do full time labor work is 10000pkr to 15000pkr (upon luck otherwise u get less)

Studio or 1 room rent in very cheap and bad area is 5000rps per month.

Electricity cost for a tv, 2 bulb and 2 fan is 1500rps per month.

Food cost for 2 times a day (basic meal) is around 3000 to 5000pkr per month.

Water, sewerage, garbage disposal costs is 500rps per month.

Gas cost for cooking is around 300pkr per month.

Transportation cost is around 3000 per month.

Now at this level your expenses are more than your salary. Now you tell how can you live a quality of life.

Karachi is among the best places for tourists, To illustrate; Beach, Mosques, tombs etcetra. Prices are bit low relatively to other countries. Restaurants differ from inexpensive to 5 Star Restaurants. Malls are filled with people at peak times. Karachites welcome foreigners warmly.
Healthcare is free in some Government Hospitals & NGO operated clinics. Government has made an effort to make drugs not freely available, So it doesn't gets into the wrong hands. It's not required to have medical insurance to pay for medicines. Even a signature by a registered doctor can be shown to a local pharmacy. Many pharmacies provide free of cost medicines if you have a consent with the doctor.
Karachi is relatively cheap, However family of six can live easily on $3164/ year.
Inflation & Deflation has been a part of the economy.

Pakistan has enjoyed a high life style & quality living conditions in main cities, like Islamabad, Lahore & Karachi.

You missed healthcare which can go up to may be pkr 5000 per person? Specially old aged
Including medicines without medical insurance if someone has a medical condition to treat.

Someone should confirm.

Pakistan is one of the best Country on planet earth. I love Pakistan.

prices has fallen in international market. Karachi has fallen much more. a family of 5 can easily live on
a budget of 5000 Rps per a month. the poor people in Karachi have been saved. check out hyper star web
site for food and commodities prices. Or go on to imtiaz web site to compare with hyper star.

Assalamu alaikum, my brothers and sisters in Pakistan. As for informs u iam from Chennai(Madras) india.as I read paks high life style and living conditions.Chennai is 100% cheaper in every aspect. Muslims here alhumdulillah safe in every angle.worldly education Muslims here in South 80% educated.religious,respectable,soft,helping tendencies in all lines of life.my message to u all is change urs bogus system of following West.develop confidence and learn to respect. Come out of education system of pre partition.that only for past 65 years only gave elite class of photo copy of Western made mental slaves.that is the reason what Pakistan today is. Come here to India and how people here are out class mindset.respects each other. Even a poor who has nothing can meet easily president,PM,cm,all berucrates and talk to them.system is public oriented.not money minded.in cities every class people lives in apartments and same life style.govt run medical,eng,colleges seats easy for merits and quotas.eg.milk 1litre is 40 inr.vehicle charge per kmtrs is 12 inr.metro govt bus charge per kmtrs is 1 inr.come out of bogus preindepent system of British.learn to leave by respecting all class of people.

Pakistan is world poorest country.

No Gas, No Electricity, No Road, No Water, No Job,

Gov't of paskistan has not interested to develop the pakistan...

ALLAH has given the every thing to paskitan.But our politician has not to interested to serve pakistani peoples.

Now pakistan has destroyed in the world..

Our country is very very good but it's peoples & politician has not good..

All are telling a lie. Though karachi is cheaper than other cities of Pakistan but it is not as cheap as everyone is saying.

I was just checking, because I have an associate there. It may be cheap, but it's not a safe place. If you wanna live in a cheap AND safe place, there is no better option than Bulgaria. Actually, I relocated there from Austria and it is pretty awesome, although a bit boring off the summer season.

my salery is 142.8$= 15000PKR, i am living very happy life in karachi, I drink milk daily, going jym, making fun with my friend every weekend, eating fast food, BBQ with my friend, and i saved 5000 each month :), depand on you life style

I'm single and earning 18000 PKR/ month. it's decent amount to live for a single person