Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahawalpur and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $337 in Bahawalpur versus $484 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $727 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $725 in Bahawalpur versus $970 in Lahore.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 30% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$2.09 PKR 580

-16.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.78 PKR 2,439

$14.06 PKR 3,903

-37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.35 PKR 1,207

-20.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 PKR 388

$2.75 PKR 765

-49.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 PKR 1,321

$3.66 PKR 1,018

30.05%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 358

$2.39 PKR 663

-46.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 84.7

$0.36 PKR 98.7

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.9

$0.21 PKR 58.3

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.94 PKR 260

-45.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.57 PKR 158

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.21 PKR 337

1.65%

Eggs

$1.05 PKR 292

$1.21 PKR 337

-13.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 PKR 2,047

$6.18 PKR 1,717

19.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 714

$3.02 PKR 839

-14.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.25 PKR 903

$4.55 PKR 1,263

-28.57%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.06 PKR 293

-6.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.63 PKR 175

-12.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.8

$0.61 PKR 169

-57.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 148

$0.47 PKR 131

12.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.5

$0.36 PKR 98.8

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 132

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.47 PKR 131

34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 82.9

$0.35 PKR 98.3

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 PKR 270

$1.11 PKR 308

-12.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.51 PKR 143

35.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 PKR 963

$1.10 PKR 306

215.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 PKR 511

$1.97 PKR 546

-6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.18 PKR 51.2

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.80 PKR 499

$6.92 PKR 1,922

-73.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 PKR 301

$0.73 PKR 202

47.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 57.0

$0.49 PKR 137

-57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 PKR 297

$1.80 PKR 501

-40.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$0.96 PKR 266

2.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

22.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

-10.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-59.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.89 PKR 1,080

$5.31 PKR 1,473

-26.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 PKR 3,541

$17.33 PKR 4,811

-26.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.44 PKR 3,454

$13.73 PKR 3,813

-9.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 PKR 2,247

$5.94 PKR 1,649

36.20%

Cinema Ticket

$2.18 PKR 605

$4.29 PKR 1,191

-49.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$26.76 PKR 7,431

$34.60 PKR 9,608

-22.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 PKR 189.1K

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

-45.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 PKR 4,419

$15.40 PKR 4,276

3.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.24 PKR 6,174

$23.27 PKR 6,462

-4.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

-16.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.13 PKR 7,255

$30.56 PKR 8,486

-14.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$120 PKR 33.3K

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

-29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 PKR 65.0K

$291 PKR 80.9K

-19.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$188 PKR 52.2K

-28.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

$844 PKR 234.5K

309.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 PKR 216.5K

$590 PKR 163.7K

32.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 PKR 37.5K

$185 PKR 51.5K

-27.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

-9.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Bahawalpur and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $94.0 per month, with Bahawalpur cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bahawalpur vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Lahore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Lahore. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Bahawalpur versus $120 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $337 per month in Bahawalpur versus $484 in Lahore – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 284% less than in Lahore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.