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: $338 in Bahawalpur versus $492 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $531 in Bahawalpur versus $746 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $724 in Bahawalpur versus $1,001 in Lahore.

Living in Bahawalpur costs roughly 31% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahawalpur 75% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 PKR 498

$2.09 PKR 582

-14.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.97 PKR 2,495

$14.24 PKR 3,961

-37.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 PKR 959

$4.27 PKR 1,189

-19.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$2.78 PKR 774

-48.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 PKR 1,299

$3.62 PKR 1,007

29.01%

Cappuccino

$1.29 PKR 359

$2.34 PKR 651

-44.87%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.23 PKR 64.0

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.89 PKR 247

-44.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.57 PKR 157

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 360

$1.17 PKR 324

11.11%

Eggs

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.20 PKR 335

-14.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 PKR 2,044

$6.11 PKR 1,700

20.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 PKR 743

$3.05 PKR 849

-12.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PKR 909

$4.44 PKR 1,234

-26.35%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 274

$1.02 PKR 283

-3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.60 PKR 166

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.60 PKR 168

-56.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 133

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.32 PKR 90.2

15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.48 PKR 133

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.44 PKR 123

43.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 89.5

$0.38 PKR 106

-15.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 PKR 263

$0.93 PKR 258

1.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PKR 189

$0.55 PKR 152

23.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PKR 976

$1.11 PKR 309

216.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 PKR 521

$1.99 PKR 555

-6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.19 PKR 52.7

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.81 PKR 503

$6.98 PKR 1,941

-74.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.70 PKR 194

55.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 PKR 49.67

$0.49 PKR 138

-63.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.78 PKR 496

-42.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.91 PKR 253

7.69%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

23.36%

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

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-10.89%

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

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-58.11%

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

$3.87 PKR 1,077

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-30.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.79 PKR 3,559

$17.01 PKR 4,733

-24.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,430

$13.75 PKR 3,824

-10.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 PKR 2,183

$5.73 PKR 1,595

37.00%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 PKR 586

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-51.38%

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

$26.12 PKR 7,266

$35.47 PKR 9,869

-26.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 PKR 183.6K

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

-46.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,433

$14.98 PKR 4,168

6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.13 PKR 6,157

$22.69 PKR 6,311

-2.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

-16.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.44 PKR 7,357

$29.85 PKR 8,304

-11.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 PKR 29.6K

$118 PKR 32.9K

-10.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

-29.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.7K

$286 PKR 79.6K

-21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 PKR 37.4K

$188 PKR 52.2K

-28.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

$843 PKR 234.4K

322.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 PKR 211.5K

$615 PKR 171.2K

23.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$137 PKR 38.1K

$184 PKR 51.3K

-25.74%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Bahawalpur and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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: $9.00 in Bahawalpur vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 vs $93.0 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 45% 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, Lahore earns 35% less. 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: $106 in Bahawalpur versus $118 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Bahawalpur versus $492 in Lahore – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 286% 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 45% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.