What if you were born in United States?

If you had grown up in United States instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in New York could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco. Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in United States

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in USD and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in United States: USD 8,050Rs 2,230,000
Rent (city centre): USD 2,330
Transport (public transport): USD 547
Food: USD 1,160
Saved: USD 1,210

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in United States: USD 18,500Rs 5,120,000
Rent (suburbs): USD 4,710
Transport (public transport): USD 1,260
Food: USD 3,140
Saved: USD 2,770

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in United States: USD 30,000Rs 8,300,000
Rent (city centre): USD 7,330
Transport (car): USD 2,800
Food: USD 3,670
Saved: USD 8,390

Try it with my own income

A day in New York

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in New York, a city of snowy winters around 1°C and warm summers around 24°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak English.
Lunch
Lunch might be hamburgers, hot dogs and apple pie.
Evening
You get home with USD 2,770 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

United States compared with Pakistan

	United States	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	4.3× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	79 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	7 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	4.2%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	12°C	26°C
Languages	English	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	USD	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs United States, living in United States and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in United States?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around USD 18,500 a month at the same level in United States (about Rs 5,120,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is United States more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 4.3 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in United States?

Mainly English. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to United States?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs United States page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.