Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Karachi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Karachi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Karachi?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Karachi
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, and The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Karachi $26
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $26. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dubai and Karachi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Karachi $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Karachi $22
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Karachi
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Karachi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dubai Hotel Prices and Karachi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Karachi $4.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $10
- Private Dubai Airport Transfer DXB to Anywhere in Dubai: $13
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Dubai Airport Transfers from all terminals: $19
- Dubai Global Village All Days Ticket With Shared Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket With Optional Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Dubai Airport (DXB): $20
- Dubai Airport Private one way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $22
- Dubai Airport Shuttle - One Way Departure Transfer: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Karachi?
Prices for flights to both Karachi and Dubai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDubai $56Karachi $11
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek: $15
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- Cruising With Dinner And Live Shows At Dubai Creek: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner Deira Creek: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $93
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Karachi $5.07
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.46
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.19
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.90
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.67
- Walking Tour, Old Town, Abra, Souks & Street Food: $9.80
- Global Village Tickets : $10
- Dubai Fountain Show Boat Lake Ride or Bridge Walk Tickets options: $11
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $194
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Karachi $3.35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Karachi, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Karachi is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Karachi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Karachi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Karachi?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Karachi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Dubai or Karachi?
Karachi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dubai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dubai or Karachi in the Summer?
Both Karachi and Dubai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. In the summer, Dubai is a little warmer than Karachi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubai in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Karachi averages at about 30°C (86°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Karachi. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Dubai.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Karachi 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Karachi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Karachi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.
In October, Dubai is generally around the same temperature as Karachi. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 29°C (84°F), and Karachi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In October, Dubai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Karachi. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Karachi 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Karachi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Karachi. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Dubai is around the same temperature as Karachi in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Karachi fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Dubai usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Karachi. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. January to March in Dubai is the rainy season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Karachi 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Karachi in the Spring?
Both Karachi and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.
In the spring, Dubai is cooler than Karachi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubai in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Karachi averages at about 29°C (84°F).
In April, Dubai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Karachi. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Karachi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Dubai is June to August.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Karachi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Karachi and Dubai
| Dubai | Karachi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.