Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or Edinburgh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or Edinburgh? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Karachi or Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarachi $26Edinburgh $178
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $178. 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 Karachi and Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11Edinburgh $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22Edinburgh $186
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Edinburgh? 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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58Edinburgh $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Edinburgh Airport: Bus Transfer: $5.65
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Airport to South Queensferry Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to Newhaven Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Edinburgh Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfers: $38
- Private One-Way Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: $41
- Private Transfer - South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Airport(GLA): $46
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Hotels: $50
- Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh: $56
- Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh Accommodation Arrival Transfer: $59
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh and Karachi 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 dayKarachi $11Edinburgh $49
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: $94
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$13
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Lunch for Two$19
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Sandwich$2.32
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Cheese & bread$9.07
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$31
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.28
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Turkish Delight$1.76
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Soup at the Pub$7.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $88
- Edinburgh Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Food Tour: $100
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $121
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $162
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07Edinburgh $25
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: $162
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $196
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$40
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Movie Tickets for Two$15
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Donation for Storytellers$7.53
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.77
- Edinburgh Stand Up Comedy Ticket Show in Scotland: $5.08
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.37
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.38
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.20
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $8.02
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35Edinburgh $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$18
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Karachi is in Asia and Edinburgh is in Europe, 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Karachi Expensive? and Is Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or Edinburgh?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Edinburgh, 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 Karachi or Edinburgh?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Karachi or Edinburgh in the Summer?
Both Edinburgh and Karachi during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Karachi is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the summer temperatures in Karachi in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 14°C (58°F).
In the summer, Karachi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Edinburgh. Karachi gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
Karachi usually gets less rain in July than Edinburgh. Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKarachi 30°C (86°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Edinburgh. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Karachi is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 29°C (84°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Karachi gets 284 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Karachi usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKarachi 29°C (84°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Edinburgh in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Edinburgh. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
It's quite cold in Edinburgh in the winter. Karachi is much warmer than Edinburgh in the winter. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Karachi this time of the year. In the winter, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Karachi gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Karachi usually gets less rain in January than Edinburgh. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKarachi 19°C (66°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Edinburgh in the Spring?
Both Edinburgh and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Karachi is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the spring temperatures in Karachi in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karachi. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Karachi gets 277 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Karachi usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKarachi 29°C (84°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Karachi
| Karachi | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.