Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Jhelum and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $324 in Jhelum versus $484 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $510 in Jhelum versus $727 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $696 in Jhelum versus $970 in Lahore.

Living in Jhelum costs roughly 33% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jhelum 76% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 PKR 480
$2.09 PKR 579
-17.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.43 PKR 2,891
$14.06 PKR 3,898
-25.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.61 PKR 1,000
$4.35 PKR 1,206
-17.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 PKR 799
$2.75 PKR 764
4.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 PKR 1,302
$3.66 PKR 1,016
28.14%
Cappuccino
$1.50 PKR 416
$2.39 PKR 662
-37.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 PKR 85.9
$0.36 PKR 98.6
-13.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.9
$0.21 PKR 58.2
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 PKR 170
$0.94 PKR 260
-35.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 PKR 164
$0.57 PKR 158
3.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 PKR 358
$1.21 PKR 336
6.61%
Eggs
$1.19 PKR 330
$1.21 PKR 337
-1.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.15 PKR 1,429
$6.18 PKR 1,715
-16.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.44 PKR 678
$3.02 PKR 838
-19.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.05 PKR 847
$4.55 PKR 1,261
-32.97%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 PKR 272
$1.06 PKR 293
-7.55%
Banana (1kg)
$0.58 PKR 162
$0.63 PKR 175
-7.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 172
$0.61 PKR 169
1.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 141
$0.47 PKR 130
8.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 104
$0.36 PKR 98.7
5.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 150
$0.48 PKR 132
12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.20 PKR 54.4
$0.47 PKR 131
-57.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.8
$0.35 PKR 98.2
-31.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.95 PKR 263
$1.11 PKR 308
-14.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 PKR 189
$0.51 PKR 143
33.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 PKR 570
$1.10 PKR 306
86.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.85 PKR 235
$1.97 PKR 545
-56.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKR 46.27
$0.18 PKR 51.2
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.16 PKR 1,985
$6.92 PKR 1,920
3.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 PKR 302
$0.73 PKR 201
49.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 PKR 135
$0.49 PKR 137
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 PKR 482
$1.80 PKR 500
-3.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 270
$0.96 PKR 266
1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K PKR 6.0M
$17.5K PKR 4.8M
23.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K PKR 5.9M
$23.4K PKR 6.5M
-8.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 PKR 14.5K
$141 PKR 39.2K
-63.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.79 PKR 774
$5.31 PKR 1,471
-47.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.93 PKR 3,587
$17.33 PKR 4,805
-25.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.36 PKR 3,429
$13.73 PKR 3,809
-9.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.90 PKR 1,635
$5.94 PKR 1,647
-0.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.45 PKR 956
$4.29 PKR 1,190
-19.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$17.80 PKR 4,936
$34.60 PKR 9,596
-48.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,152 PKR 319.4K
$1,253 PKR 347.4K
-8.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.09 PKR 4,463
$15.40 PKR 4,270
4.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.13 PKR 6,137
$23.27 PKR 6,454
-4.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 PKR 16.7K
$71.8 PKR 19.9K
-16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.89 PKR 7,179
$30.56 PKR 8,476
-15.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$75.5 PKR 20.9K
$120 PKR 33.3K
-37.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$51.4 PKR 14.3K
$75.9 PKR 21.1K
-32.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$165 PKR 45.8K
$291 PKR 80.8K
-43.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$104 PKR 28.9K
$188 PKR 52.2K
-44.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$899 PKR 249.4K
$844 PKR 234.2K
6.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$543 PKR 150.5K
$590 PKR 163.5K
-7.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhelum
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$185 PKR 51.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18
19.88
-9.46%

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

Last update for Jhelum: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.5 in Jhelum and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Jhelum vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $78.0 vs $94.0 per month, with Jhelum cheaper across the board.

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
Jhelum vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lahore cheaper than Jhelum?
Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $487 in Jhelum and $726 in Lahore to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Jhelum and Lahore?
Rent for a central apartment: $75.5 in Jhelum versus $120 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Jhelum and in Lahore?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Jhelum or in Lahore?
Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Jhelum or Lahore?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Jhelum or in Lahore?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Jhelum or Lahore?
Safety-wise, Jhelum and Lahore are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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