Which place is cheaper, Pune or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or Pune?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or Pune? 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 Pune?
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.
Pune
Located in Maharashtra, Pune is the state's second largest city and cultural capital. Not only is it a hub for museums, temples, beaches, and scenic overlooks, but it also has a thriving nightlife and general atmosphere due to the student population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarachi $26Pune $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Pune is $51. 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 Pune in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11Pune $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22Pune $46
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Pune
Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Pune? 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 Pune Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58Pune $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pune
Also for Pune, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable transfer from Pune to Mumbai Airport: $28
- Pune Airport Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Pune (PNQ) Airport to Pune City: $37
- Private Transfer from Pune to Shirdi: $42
- Simon Cabaret Show in Phuket including Return Transfer: $48
- Mumbai-Pune Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Pune?
Prices for flights to both Pune 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 $11Pune $18
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pune
For Pune, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Street Food Tour with Cultural Charms of Pune: $22
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $32
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $33
- Coral Island, Promthep Cape & Sunset Dinner with Power Catamaran: $52
- Organic Thai cooking class: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07Pune $17
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: $195
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Tours and Activities in Pune
For Pune, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pune Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.63
- Pune Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.71
- Skip the Line: Meher Retreat Day Picnic Ticket, Near Pune: $12
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Pune with a local - A Unique 2 Hrs Walking Tour: $13
- Shaniwar Wada Walking Tour: $13
- Night Walk Tour Pune: $13
- Walking Tour of Pune (2 Hours Guided Walk): $14
- Experience Spiritual Culture in Pune with a local - 2 Hours: $17
- Night Walk Tour Pune (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Guided Tour to Shaniwar Wada Fort and Peshwas Legacy: $18
- Pune Walking Tour with a Punekar: $21
- Private Walking Tour & Food tasting with a Local: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35Pune $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Pune
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Pune:
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $38
- Pub Crawl (3 Hours Guided Bar Hopping Tour): $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Pune, we can see that Pune is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Pune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pune 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 Pune Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or Pune?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pune. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Pune, 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.
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.