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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 16.4% more expensive than Lahore without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 13.2% more expensive than Lahore without rent, and 15.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$2.14 PKR 597
28.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,975
$14.22 PKR 3,968
0.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$4.15 PKR 1,157
28.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$2.81 PKR 783
-38.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$3.60 PKR 1,005
10.56%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$2.36 PKR 658
-11.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.33 PKR 91.5
27.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.23 PKR 64.2
4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.93 PKR 260
4.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.60 PKR 168
10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.16 PKR 323
8.62%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.21 PKR 339
4.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$5.92 PKR 1,651
1.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$2.96 PKR 825
15.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$4.53 PKR 1,264
-2.87%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 280
$1.06 PKR 297
-5.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.63 PKR 176
34.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.56 PKR 157
60.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.47 PKR 131
21.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.35 PKR 98.6
8.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.48 PKR 134
18.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.47 PKR 132
-29.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.36 PKR 99.3
2.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$0.75 PKR 209
154.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.55 PKR 153
65.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$1.11 PKR 310
82.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 576
$1.99 PKR 556
3.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.20 PKR 55.8
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,924
$7.20 PKR 2,008
-4.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.73 PKR 203
24.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.53 PKR 148
-24.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 802
$1.75 PKR 488
64.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.91 PKR 253
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$17.5K PKR 4.9M
19.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$23.0K PKR 6.4M
13.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$137 PKR 38.2K
-18.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$5.50 PKR 1,535
1.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,218
$17.08 PKR 4,765
9.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,220
$13.60 PKR 3,794
63.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$5.79 PKR 1,616
1.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$4.13 PKR 1,151
4.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$34.76 PKR 9,699
74.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 764.0K
$1,243 PKR 346.8K
120.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,965
$15.30 PKR 4,269
39.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,937
$22.78 PKR 6,357
24.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
$72.4 PKR 20.2K
23.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$30.50 PKR 8,509
31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$117 PKR 32.6K
68.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$75.2 PKR 21.0K
48.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.8K
$283 PKR 79.1K
78.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$189 PKR 52.6K
55.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.2K
$813 PKR 226.7K
88.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$618 PKR 172.5K
21.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
$185 PKR 51.6K
64.19%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lahore: April 12, 2026

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

Islamabad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities