A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Karachi vs. Sendai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Karachi or Sendai?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Karachi or Sendai? 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 Sendai?

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.

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Sendai or Karachi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Sendai is $105. 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 Sendai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Karachi $11
    Sendai $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Karachi $22
    Sendai $118
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Sendai

Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Sendai? 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.

Hotels in Karachi


Hotels in Sendai


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 Sendai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Karachi $4.58
    Sendai $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai

Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Sendai?

Prices for flights to both Sendai 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Karachi $11
    Sendai $33

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Karachi $5.07
    Sendai $18

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 Sendai

For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
  • Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Karachi $3.35
    Sendai $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Sendai, we can see that Sendai 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Karachi or Sendai?

Karachi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Sendai, 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 Sendai?

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 Sendai in the Summer?

Both Sendai and Karachi during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Karachi is a little warmer than Sendai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Karachi in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Sendai averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In the summer, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Karachi gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun.

Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Karachi usually gets less rain in July than Sendai. Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Karachi 30°C (86°F) 
    Sendai 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Sendai in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Sendai. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Karachi is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 29°C (84°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during autumn. Karachi gets 284 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Karachi usually receives less rain than Sendai. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Karachi 29°C (84°F) 
    Sendai 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Sendai in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Sendai. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. Karachi is much warmer than Sendai in the winter. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°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 Sendai. Karachi gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.

Karachi usually gets less rain in January than Sendai. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Karachi 19°C (66°F) 
    Sendai 2°C (35°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Sendai in the Spring?

Both Sendai and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

In the spring, Karachi is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Karachi in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Sendai averages at about 10°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karachi. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during spring. Karachi gets 277 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Karachi usually receives less rain than Sendai. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Karachi 29°C (84°F) 
    Sendai 10°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Sendai and Karachi

Karachi Sendai
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 5°C (40°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 10°C (51°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (60°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Nov 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 4°C (40°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)


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