Moving to Afghanistan from Pakistan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Pakistan to Afghanistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Pakistan to Afghanistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kabul averages 67°F vs 84°F in Islamabad, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Who's moving to Afghanistan?
Top countries of origin for Afghanistan's foreign-born residents.
-
1.102,500
Pakistan
- 4,422
- 219
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Afghanistan compared to Pakistan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Pakistan generally does better on safety, though Afghanistan leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Afghanistan leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Pakistan generally does better on environment, though Afghanistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Pakistan generally does better on infrastructure, though Afghanistan leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Pakistan performs better than Afghanistan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Pakistan generally does better on family life, though Afghanistan leads in education spending.
Data: Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Islamabad | Kabul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) | 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) | 88°/56°F (31°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) | 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Islamabad | Kabul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) | 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C) |
| Feb | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) | 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) | 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C) |
| Apr | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) |
| May | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) | 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C) |
| Jun | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) | 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C) |
| Jul | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) | 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) |
| Aug | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) | 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C) |
| Sep | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) | 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C) |
| Oct | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) | 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C) |
| Nov | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) | 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C) |
| Dec | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) | 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C) |
Data:
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Pakistan and Afghanistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Afghanistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Afghanistan's immigration authority.
Pakistan passport holder visiting Afghanistan
Visa Required
Afghanistan passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Afghanistan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Afghanistan: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Afghanistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Afghanistan safe for expats?
Pakistan generally does better on safety, though Afghanistan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Afghanistan is 4.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.2 in Pakistan.
How is healthcare in Afghanistan compared to Pakistan?
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Afghanistan leads in adult obesity rate. There are 2.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Afghanistan, compared to 10.8 in Pakistan. Afghanistan scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Pakistan: 45).
What's the weather like in Afghanistan compared to Pakistan?
The average high temperature in Kabul is 67°F, compared to 84°F in Islamabad. Kabul receives around 12.3 in of rainfall per year, while Islamabad gets 49.1 in.
What language do they speak in Afghanistan?
The official languages in Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. In Pakistan, the official languages are English and Urdu.
