Moving to Pakistan from Iowa
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iowa to Pakistan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Iowa to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 69.2% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly PKR7,133,508 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 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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How your spending power changes when you relocate from Iowa to Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PKR7,133,508
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 79.6% less
Groceries
pay 69.2% less
Transportation
pay 41.2% less
Housing
pay 77.9% less
Childcare
pay 95.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.8% 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 66% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
How Iowa and Pakistan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Pakistan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
Iowa performs better than Pakistan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
Generally yes: Pakistan runs about 66% cheaper than Iowa on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around PKR1,783,377 in Pakistan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Working remotely from Pakistan's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Pakistan.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to Iowa?
Pakistan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In Iowa, the official language is English.
