Moving to Pakistan from New York

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from New York to Pakistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from New York to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 73.3% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly PKR5,436,130 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 58°F in Albany, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New York and Pakistan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 PKR5,436,130

To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 81.5% less

Groceries

pay 76.3% less

Transportation

pay 51.2% less

Housing

pay 80.0% less

Childcare

pay 96.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 74.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 277.62 PKR (August 2026)

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 74% less than cities in New York.

New York

Queens 73%
Ithaca 62%

Pakistan

Karachi 18%
Lahore 18%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Pakistan compared to New York.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NY
29.9%
PK
8.6%

Pakistan performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
PK
21.0%

New York performs better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NY
4.4%
PK
5.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
PK
$5,600

New York performs better than Pakistan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NY
77.7 yrs
PK
69.7 yrs

New York 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.

Albany Rain: 39.4 in/yr (1000 mm)
58° / 39°F

Avg. annual high / low

Islamabad Rain: 49.1 in/yr (1247 mm)
84° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Albany Islamabad
Jan–Mar 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) 69°/44°F (21°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 95°/68°F (35°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/14°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 Albany Islamabad
Jan 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C)
Feb 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C)
Mar 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C)
May 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C)
Aug 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C)
Dec 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°C) 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C)

Data: National Weather Service 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

United States passport holder visiting Pakistan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Pakistan.
Pakistan passport

Pakistan passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Pakistan passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 New York?

On average Pakistan is about 74% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?

Budget about PKR1,359,032 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 New York and Pakistan are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to New York?

Pakistan performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to New York?

The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.

What language do they speak in Pakistan?

The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In New York, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PK
Population 19,378,102 242,923,845
Currency United States Dollar ($) Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
Languages English English, Urdu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +92
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 15