Pakistan living costs for students in 2026

Pakistan’s price level was 27% of the United States in 2023. That makes everyday costs a central part of any study plan. This measure helps compare general living costs, not a full student budget.

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Price level, against the United States

27%

A basket of goods costing $100 in the United States costs about $27 in Pakistan, at market exchange rates. This is a whole-economy average from the World Bank (2023), not a student budget — rent near a university and a student's own habits move it a long way in both directions.

Pakistan’s published price level against the United States is 27%. In plain terms, that points to a lower overall cost level than in the US, but it does not set a student’s full budget on its own.

The comparison is useful for thinking about day-to-day spending, but it does not tell you how much you will pay for any single item. A student budget will still move most with the costs that are not captured by a single country-wide price level.

Pakistan has 136 universities, including Information Technology University, Lahore; Abasyn University Peshawar; Allama Iqbal Open University; Azad Jammu and Kashmir University; Aga Khan University; and Al-Khair University. That gives applicants a wide choice of institutions while they compare living costs.

Pakistan’s GDP per capita, measured in purchasing power parity, is 5,367 US dollars. For a study decision, the main takeaway is that the country’s general price level is well below the US level, so budgeting should focus on the full cost of moving, studying and living rather than one comparison alone.