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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $492 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $746 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $1,001 in Lahore, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 8% more than Lahore, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.09 PKR 582

33.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.24 PKR 3,961

-0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$4.27 PKR 1,189

27.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$2.78 PKR 774

-38.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.62 PKR 1,007

10.50%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$2.34 PKR 651

-14.53%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.36 PKR 99.3

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.89 PKR 247

5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.57 PKR 157

8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.17 PKR 324

3.42%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.11 PKR 1,700

-0.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$3.05 PKR 849

11.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$4.44 PKR 1,234

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.02 PKR 283

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.60 PKR 166

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.60 PKR 168

55.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.48 PKR 133

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.32 PKR 90.2

28.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.48 PKR 133

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.44 PKR 123

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$0.93 PKR 258

107.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.55 PKR 152

63.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$1.11 PKR 309

79.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$1.99 PKR 555

7.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.19 PKR 52.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,920

$6.98 PKR 1,941

-1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.70 PKR 194

22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.49 PKR 138

-10.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.78 PKR 496

57.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

23.90%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

9.98%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-18.85%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-2.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$17.01 PKR 4,733

10.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$13.75 PKR 3,824

61.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$5.73 PKR 1,595

5.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-3.00%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$35.47 PKR 9,868

70.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

126.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$14.98 PKR 4,168

43.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,685

$22.69 PKR 6,311

21.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

21.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$29.85 PKR 8,304

33.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$118 PKR 32.9K

67.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

45.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$286 PKR 79.6K

79.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$188 PKR 52.2K

57.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$843 PKR 234.4K

84.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$615 PKR 171.2K

6.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$184 PKR 51.3K

110.00%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad 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 110% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Lahore. Groceries tell a different story – $98.0 in Islamabad vs $93.0 in Lahore – so Lahore wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad 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 Lahore, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $492 in Lahore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Lahore – 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 Lahore. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.