Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Lahore

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 15.9% more expensive than Lahore without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 14% more expensive than Lahore without rent, and 18.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 806
$2.15 PKR 608
32.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.4 PKR 4,068
$14.02 PKR 3,959
2.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,491
$4.14 PKR 1,169
27.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 496
$2.86 PKR 808
-38.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 PKR 1,083
$3.76 PKR 1,061
1.86%
Cappuccino
$2.01 PKR 567
$2.39 PKR 675
-15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 111
$0.33 PKR 92.6
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 68.1
$0.23 PKR 65.1
4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 PKR 282
$0.9 PKR 253
11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 188
$0.57 PKR 161
17.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 344
$1.17 PKR 330
4.27%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 358
$1.21 PKR 341
4.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 PKR 1,736
$6.14 PKR 1,734
0.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 1,004
$2.97 PKR 839
19.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 PKR 1,216
$4.55 PKR 1,285
-5.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 292
$1.02 PKR 289
0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.59 PKR 167
44.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 PKR 255
$0.57 PKR 162
57.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 167
$0.48 PKR 135
22.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.33 PKR 92.2
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$0.51 PKR 145
1.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$0.48 PKR 136
-35.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 PKR 114
$0.38 PKR 108
5.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 503
$0.72 PKR 205
147.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PKR 247
$0.55 PKR 156
58.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 PKR 554
$1.11 PKR 314
76.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 613
$1.93 PKR 544
12.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53
$0.16 PKR 44.29
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.95 PKR 1,964
$6.93 PKR 1,958
0.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.69 PKR 195
23.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.53 PKR 150
-16.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 PKR 820
$1.74 PKR 491
66.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 277
$0.95 PKR 269
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$17.6K PKR 5M
22.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K PKR 7.3M
$23.7K PKR 6.7M
9.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.3K
$139 PKR 39.2K
-20.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,512
$5.34 PKR 1,508
0.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38 PKR 5,191
$17.43 PKR 4,923
5.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.44 PKR 6,339
$13.73 PKR 3,878
63.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 PKR 1,700
$5.8 PKR 1,639
3.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.3 PKR 1,214
$4.33 PKR 1,223
-0.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$34.68 PKR 9,796
70.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
$1,254 PKR 354.3K
116.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 PKR 5,980
$15.12 PKR 4,270
40.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 PKR 7,947
$22.97 PKR 6,487
22.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
$73.5 PKR 20.8K
19.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
$29.55 PKR 8,345
34.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 PKR 57K
$120 PKR 33.8K
68.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.5K
$77.8 PKR 22K
43.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PKR 141.1K
$290 PKR 81.9K
72.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 PKR 84.3K
$189 PKR 53.4K
57.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
$621 PKR 175.5K
111.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 PKR 220.5K
$518 PKR 146.2K
50.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 PKR 81.6K
$165 PKR 46.6K
74.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
19.88
1.61%

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

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lahore: October 27, 2025

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