In the latest Global Cities’ Cost of Living Index 2024 by Numbeo, Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have been recognized as some of the world’s most affordable cities.
Numbeo, the largest global database of user-contributed data on cities and countries, has placed these three major Pakistani cities at the bottom of its list, reflecting their low cost of living compared to the most expensive cities globally, such as Geneva, Zurich, and New York.
Karachi
Karachi tops the list as the most affordable city worldwide. The Cost of Living Index for Karachi stands at 19.0, with a Rent Index of 2.9, making the combined Cost of Living and Rent Index 11.3. The city also has a Groceries Index of 17.6, a Restaurant Price Index of 13.1, and a Local Purchasing Power Index of 28.0.
Read More: Karachi is ranked as the world’s 2nd riskiest city by Forbes Advisor
Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, is listed just after Karachi. It shares the same Cost of Living Index of 19.0 and a Rent Index of 2.9, resulting in a combined Index of 11.3. Lahore’s Groceries Index is 16.3, the Restaurant Price Index is 15.7, and the Local Purchasing Power Index is 27.3.
Islamabad
Islamabad, the capital city, ranks fourth-last on the list. It has a higher Cost of Living Index of 21.5 and a Rent Index of 5.3, with a combined Index of 13.7. The Groceries Index is 19.5, the Restaurant Price Index is 14.6, and the Local Purchasing Power Index is 36.2.
Previously, Karachi was listed as the world’s second riskiest city in a Forbes report, and Lahore is known for its severe pollution and smog, impacting its global city rankings.
