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 $484 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $831 per month in Isfahan vs $727 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Isfahan vs $970 in Lahore, rent included.

Isfahan is about 1% cheaper than Lahore, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.91 $2.91
$2.09 PKR 579
39.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.98 $10.98
$14.06 PKR 3,898
-21.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.98 $2.98
$4.35 PKR 1,206
-31.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 $0.97
$2.75 PKR 764
-64.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$3.66 PKR 1,016
-43.99%
Cappuccino
$0.83 $0.83
$2.39 PKR 662
-65.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.36 PKR 98.6
41.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 $0.93
$0.21 PKR 58.2
342.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.56 $0.56
$0.94 PKR 260
-40.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.43 $0.43
$0.57 PKR 158
-24.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.21 PKR 336
80.17%
Eggs
$1.53 $1.53
$1.21 PKR 337
26.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$6.18 PKR 1,715
-55.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.02 PKR 838
-0.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.93 $9.93
$4.55 PKR 1,261
118.24%
Apples (1kg)
$0.63 $0.63
$1.06 PKR 293
-40.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$0.63 PKR 175
115.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.61 PKR 169
63.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$0.47 PKR 130
17.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 $0.60
$0.36 PKR 98.7
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.48 PKR 132
8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 $0.55
$0.47 PKR 131
17.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 $0.21
$0.35 PKR 98.2
-40.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.11 PKR 308
-54.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 $0.54
$0.51 PKR 143
5.88%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.10 PKR 306
-32.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.97 PKR 545
4.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.18 PKR 51.2
72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.28 $13.28
$6.92 PKR 1,920
91.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.73 PKR 201
-30.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.49 PKR 137
-40.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.80 PKR 500
10.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.96 PKR 266
-11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.1K $67.1K
$17.5K PKR 4.8M
283.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.4K $58.4K
$23.4K PKR 6.5M
149.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.77 $14.77
$141 PKR 39.2K
-89.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.84 $1.84
$5.31 PKR 1,471
-65.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.72 $7.72
$17.33 PKR 4,805
-55.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.71 $13.71
$13.73 PKR 3,809
-0.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56 $10.56
$5.94 PKR 1,647
77.78%
Cinema Ticket
$1.12 $1.12
$4.29 PKR 1,190
-73.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.9 $71.9
$34.60 PKR 9,596
107.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$586 $586
$1,253 PKR 347.4K
-53.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.19 $18.19
$15.40 PKR 4,270
18.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.89 $23.89
$23.27 PKR 6,454
2.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 $85.0
$71.8 PKR 19.9K
18.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.92 $36.92
$30.56 PKR 8,476
20.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 $288
$120 PKR 33.3K
140.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$197 $197
$75.9 PKR 21.1K
160.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 $901
$291 PKR 80.8K
209.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$522 $522
$188 PKR 52.2K
177.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,195 $1,195
$844 PKR 234.2K
41.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$723 $723
$590 PKR 163.5K
22.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isfahan
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$209 $209
$185 PKR 51.4K
13.05%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Isfahan versus $120 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 13% 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 – $103 in Isfahan vs $94.0 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
Which city is more expensive, Isfahan or Lahore?
Lahore costs about 1% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Isfahan and in Lahore?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $716 per month in Isfahan and $726 in Lahore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Isfahan or Lahore?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Isfahan and in Lahore?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Isfahan compared to Lahore?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Isfahan and $484 in Lahore. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $800/month in Isfahan or in Lahore?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $478 in Isfahan and $484 in Lahore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Isfahan compared to Lahore?
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.
Should I move to Isfahan or to Lahore?
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.

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