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: $304 in Bahawalpur versus $500 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $515 in Bahawalpur versus $765 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $726 in Bahawalpur versus $1,030 in Lahore.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 39% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 78% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.76 PKR 488

$2.59 PKR 719

-32.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.23 PKR 2,004

$14.55 PKR 4,037

-50.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 PKR 1,229

$5.66 PKR 1,570

-21.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 PKR 694

$3.56 PKR 989

-29.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PKR 610

$5.54 PKR 1,537

-60.29%

Cappuccino

$1.50 PKR 415

$2.51 PKR 697

-40.24%

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

$0.31 PKR 85.6

$0.43 PKR 119

-27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 53.0

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-26.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.85 PKR 237

-34.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.72 PKR 199

-40.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.17 PKR 325

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.00 PKR 276

$1.25 PKR 346

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 PKR 2,434

$6.41 PKR 1,779

36.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$2.45 PKR 679

2.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 PKR 1,133

$4.72 PKR 1,311

-13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.17 PKR 323

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.66 PKR 183

-15.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 160

$0.85 PKR 235

-31.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.60 PKR 167

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.6

$0.30 PKR 83.9

3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.33 PKR 90.9

51.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PKR 138

$0.45 PKR 124

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.36 PKR 101

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.09 PKR 303

-53.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.65 PKR 180

-13.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.71 PKR 475

-56.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 PKR 554

$2.15 PKR 596

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 306

$0.88 PKR 243

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 PKR 294

$0.69 PKR 192

53.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PKR 815

$1.77 PKR 490

66.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PKR 317

$1.26 PKR 350

-9.52%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

32.15%

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

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-19.57%

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

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

$124 PKR 34.3K

-44.73%

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

$4.44 PKR 1,230

$5.17 PKR 1,433

-14.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 PKR 3,214

$16.25 PKR 4,509

-28.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,329

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 PKR 3,049

$10.62 PKR 2,946

3.48%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 PKR 2,019

$4.30 PKR 1,192

69.30%

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

$23.81 PKR 6,605

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

-46.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.1K

$1,982 PKR 549.9K

-66.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.45 PKR 4,564

$16.83 PKR 4,668

-2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.94 PKR 6,086

$25.65 PKR 7,115

-14.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

-29.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,089

$29.41 PKR 8,158

-0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 PKR 71.4K

$317 PKR 87.9K

-18.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.9K

$191 PKR 53.1K

-34.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

$840 PKR 233.1K

312.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.0K

$594 PKR 164.7K

28.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$136 PKR 37.6K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-26.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

14.22

-16.81%

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

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lahore pays 35% 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: $7.00 in Bahawalpur vs $15.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $95.0 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 64% 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 35% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $304 per month in Bahawalpur versus $500 in Lahore – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 64% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.