Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Isfahan vs $492 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Isfahan vs $746 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,188 per month in Isfahan vs $1,001 in Lahore, rent included.

Isfahan is about 3% cheaper than Lahore, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Isfahan and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 64% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$2.09 PKR 582

44.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.65 $10.65

$14.24 PKR 3,961

-25.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.27 PKR 1,189

-29.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.78 PKR 774

-62.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.62 PKR 1,007

-43.09%

Cappuccino

$0.82 $0.82

$2.34 PKR 651

-64.96%

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

$0.48 $0.48

$0.36 PKR 99.3

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.23 PKR 64.0

308.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.89 PKR 247

-38.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.57 PKR 157

-26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.17 PKR 324

94.87%

Eggs

$1.50 $1.50

$1.20 PKR 335

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$6.11 PKR 1,700

-54.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.05 PKR 849

1.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 $9.98

$4.44 PKR 1,234

124.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.02 PKR 283

-38.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.60 PKR 166

135.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.60 PKR 168

75.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.48 PKR 133

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.32 PKR 90.2

90.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.48 PKR 133

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.44 PKR 123

31.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 $0.21

$0.38 PKR 106

-44.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.93 PKR 258

-44.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.55 PKR 152

-7.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.11 PKR 309

-30.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.99 PKR 555

4.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.19 PKR 52.7

52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.06 $13.06

$6.98 PKR 1,941

87.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.70 PKR 194

-25.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.49 PKR 138

-36.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.78 PKR 496

10.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.91 PKR 253

-7.69%

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

$67.9K $67.9K

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

290.90%

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

$59.8K $59.8K

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

151.31%

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

$14.84 $14.84

$138 PKR 38.3K

-89.22%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-66.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.62 $7.62

$17.01 PKR 4,733

-55.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.36 $13.36

$13.75 PKR 3,824

-2.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 $10.70

$5.73 PKR 1,595

86.74%

Cinema Ticket

$1.09 $1.09

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-74.88%

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

$71.9 $71.9

$35.47 PKR 9,869

102.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$579 $579

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

-53.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.06 $18.06

$14.98 PKR 4,168

20.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 $24.12

$22.69 PKR 6,311

6.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 $85.8

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

18.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.61 $36.61

$29.85 PKR 8,304

22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 $291

$118 PKR 32.9K

146.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 $193

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

151.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 $899

$286 PKR 79.6K

214.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$532 $532

$188 PKR 52.2K

183.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,200 $1,200

$843 PKR 234.4K

42.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$717 $717

$615 PKR 171.2K

16.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$207 $207

$184 PKR 51.3K

12.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.86

19.88

35.11%

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

Last update for Isfahan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Isfahan versus $118 in Lahore. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Isfahan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan versus $14.00 in Lahore. Groceries tell a different story – $105 in Isfahan vs $93.0 in Lahore – so Lahore wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Isfahan vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore costs about 3% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Isfahan and $738 in Lahore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan and $14.00 in Lahore. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Isfahan and $492 in Lahore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $478 in Isfahan and $492 in Lahore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Isfahan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lahore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.