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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Islamabad vs $518 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $782 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $1,046 in Lahore, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 14% more than Lahore, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Islamabad and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Lahore 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$2.54 PKR 705

40.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$14.58 PKR 4,039

59.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$5.60 PKR 1,552

-2.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

$3.63 PKR 1,006

2.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

$5.51 PKR 1,527

22.14%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$2.53 PKR 702

-0.79%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$0.40 PKR 110

-17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.24 PKR 65.9

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.93 PKR 258

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.71 PKR 197

5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.17 PKR 325

6.84%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.17 PKR 325

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$6.34 PKR 1,756

-4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$2.61 PKR 722

22.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$4.81 PKR 1,333

13.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$0.64 PKR 178

26.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.91 PKR 253

13.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.66 PKR 182

-21.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$0.30 PKR 83.9

-13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$0.32 PKR 89.7

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$0.46 PKR 129

-34.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.37 PKR 102

13.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

$1.09 PKR 303

84.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

$0.60 PKR 166

106.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

$1.73 PKR 478

49.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$2.11 PKR 584

9.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.20 PKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$5.43 PKR 1,503

302.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$0.89 PKR 246

44.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.69 PKR 190

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$1.85 PKR 512

-12.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.32 PKR 365

-5.30%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

201.33%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

-8.00%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$128 PKR 35.5K

-18.53%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$5.32 PKR 1,474

10.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$16.62 PKR 4,603

-2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$21.06 PKR 5,833

36.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

$10.76 PKR 2,982

-21.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$4.23 PKR 1,172

3.31%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

65.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,988 PKR 550.8K

155.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$17.31 PKR 4,794

44.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$27.44 PKR 7,601

27.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

27.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$31.91 PKR 8,840

25.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$162 PKR 45.0K

71.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

65.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$341 PKR 94.4K

73.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$203 PKR 56.1K

36.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$810 PKR 224.3K

100.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$597 PKR 165.5K

36.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$191 PKR 53.0K

97.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.28

-8.40%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lahore: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $162 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 98% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $15.00 in Lahore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $97.0 – making Lahore the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 14%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $777 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $15.00 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 $593 in Islamabad and $518 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.