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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $500 in Lahore, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $765 in Lahore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $1,030 in Lahore, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 18% more than Lahore, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Islamabad and Lahore are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$2.59 PKR 719

37.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$14.55 PKR 4,037

56.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$5.66 PKR 1,570

-3.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

$3.56 PKR 989

-0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

$5.54 PKR 1,537

21.12%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.51 PKR 697

-4.78%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.43 PKR 119

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-15.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.85 PKR 237

16.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.72 PKR 199

9.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.17 PKR 325

9.40%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.25 PKR 346

2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$6.41 PKR 1,779

-4.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$2.45 PKR 679

24.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$4.72 PKR 1,311

8.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.17 PKR 323

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.66 PKR 183

27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.85 PKR 235

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.60 PKR 167

-18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$0.30 PKR 83.9

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.33 PKR 90.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.45 PKR 124

-35.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.36 PKR 101

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.09 PKR 303

74.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$0.65 PKR 180

112.31%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

$1.71 PKR 475

37.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.15 PKR 596

6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.18 PKR 49.76

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$5.27 PKR 1,462

302.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.88 PKR 243

44.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.69 PKR 192

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$1.77 PKR 490

-6.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.26 PKR 350

4.76%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

200.06%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-5.61%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$124 PKR 34.3K

-17.41%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$5.17 PKR 1,433

12.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$16.25 PKR 4,509

0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$19.21 PKR 5,329

51.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$10.62 PKR 2,946

-15.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$4.30 PKR 1,192

16.51%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

69.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,982 PKR 549.9K

156.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$16.83 PKR 4,668

39.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$25.65 PKR 7,115

27.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

11.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$29.41 PKR 8,158

33.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$151 PKR 42.0K

82.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

79.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$317 PKR 87.9K

82.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$191 PKR 53.1K

39.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$840 PKR 233.1K

94.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$594 PKR 164.7K

39.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$183 PKR 50.9K

107.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

14.22

-8.02%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $151 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 108% 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 $95.0 – 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 18%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Islamabad and $749 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 8% 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 $589 in Islamabad and $500 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.