Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesKarachi Prices
Pakistan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Karachi $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $34. 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 $4.56
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$9.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
- Private Airport Transfer in Nairobi Kenya: $20
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to City Hotels or Wilson Airport: $24
- Airport transfer; NBO to nairobi hotels: $27
- Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $28
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport or City Hotels: $28
- From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
- Nairobi Airport One Way Transfers: $30
- Professional Airport Transfer Service in Nairobi: $33
- Nairobi Airport Private Transfers: $35
- Nairobi Private Airport Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karachi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Karachi:
- Karachi airport transfer, pick and drop, private chauffeur: $85
- Karachi Pick up and Dropoff Transfer: $50
- Karachi Half Day City Tour with Local Snacks and Private Transfer: $199
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 $13Karachi $19
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$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Karibu Kitchens Nairobi Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $85
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- BBQ Dinner & Cat Dancers Experience at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Old Karachi Street food Tour with Private Transfers: $199
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $214
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Karachi $5.05
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$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Kibera Slum Tour with a Local: $15
- Kibera Slum Cultural and Community Walking Tour: $15
- Private Tour in Kibera the Largest Slum: $15
- Nairobi Heritage Tour with Key Landmarks: $16
- Ankara Fabric Shopping and Same Day Tailoring Experience: $17
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
- Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
- Nairobi Artistic and Literary Walking Tour Experience: $22
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Day Tour in Karachi Unesco Heritage: $140
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $300
- Full Day Karachi to Thatta Unesco Sites Tour: $92
- Full Day Private City Tour of Karachi: $125
- Full Day Private Karachi City Tour: $135
- Karachi City Tour: $129
- Karachi City Tour, History, Culture & Sights: $60
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi: $150
- Walking Tour of Karachi Old Town: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Karachi $3.33
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.