Moving to Pakistan from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Pakistan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 72.4% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly PKR5,012,091 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PKR5,012,091
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 81.2% less
Groceries
pay 74.0% less
Transportation
pay 49.7% less
Housing
pay 81.0% less
Childcare
pay 96.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 71.8% 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 79% less than cities in United States.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Pakistan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Pakistan performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.
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 United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Pakistan 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
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Pakistan leads in top income tax rate.
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
United States performs better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States?
Yes — Pakistan is on average about 76% cheaper than United States. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PKR1,253,023 in Pakistan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Pakistan has 1.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Pakistan safe for expats?
Pakistan performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to United States?
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Pakistan, compared to 36.1 in United States. Pakistan scores 45 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In United States, the official language is English.
