Moving to Pakistan from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Pakistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 72.0% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly PKR6,348,954 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Islamabad averages 84°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Illinois and Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PKR6,348,954
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 80.0% less
Groceries
pay 71.5% less
Transportation
pay 48.8% less
Housing
pay 80.7% less
Childcare
pay 96.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 71.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Pakistan cost about 69% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Pakistan compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Pakistan performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois performs better than Pakistan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Illinois performs better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Pakistan than Illinois?
On average Pakistan is about 70% less expensive than Illinois, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Budget about PKR1,587,238 for 3 months in Pakistan (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
From major Pakistan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Pakistan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to Illinois?
Pakistan performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In Illinois, the official language is English.
