Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Karachi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Karachi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Karachi?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, and The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $63Karachi $26
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $63, 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 Nairobi and Karachi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Karachi $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Karachi $22
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Karachi
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Karachi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Karachi $4.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $20
- Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
- Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
- Private Transfer from Airport to Accommodation: $21
- Chauffeur, Airport Pickups And Transfers Within Nairobi: $22
- Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $24
- Nairobi Airport Transfers- Arrivals & Private Transfers: $24
- Nairobi NBO Airport One-Way Transfers: $25
- Nairobi Airport One-Way Transfers: $25
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Nairobi Airports.: $25
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $26
- Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Karachi?
Prices for flights to both Karachi and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $7.63Karachi $11
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Dinner and Pub Crawling.: $47
- Enjoy Traditional Kenyan Food Cooking Class With a Host.: $53
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $53
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $55
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Carnivore Dinner Experience: $80
- Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80
- The Safari Cats Show Tickets & Buffet Dinner: $89
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance: $90
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $47Karachi $5.07
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$16
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
- Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $19
- Nairobi City;culture and historical guided tour: $19
- Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $20
- Kibera slums half day tour from nairobi: $25
- From Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: $25
- Nairobi City tour: $25
- Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25
- Elephant orphanage, Giraffe center, kobe beads tour: $25
- Memorable Daily KIBERA Slums/Toi Market Tour with Locals (2 hours): $25
- Private Guided Nairobi City and Cultural Walking Tour: $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: $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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Karachi $3.35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Karachi, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa 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 Nairobi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nairobi 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 Nairobi Expensive? and Is Karachi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Karachi?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.
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.