Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Bahawalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Bahawalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Lahore versus $337 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Lahore versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Lahore versus $725 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Lahore is roughly 44% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$1.74 PKR 484

20.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$8.78 PKR 2,439

60.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$3.47 PKR 964

25.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

$1.40 PKR 388

96.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

$4.76 PKR 1,321

-23.11%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.29 PKR 358

85.27%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.30 PKR 84.7

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.22 PKR 60.9

-4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.51 PKR 142

84.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.53 PKR 146

7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.23 PKR 341

-1.63%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.05 PKR 292

15.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$7.37 PKR 2,047

-16.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$2.57 PKR 714

17.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$3.25 PKR 903

40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.99 PKR 275

7.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.55 PKR 153

14.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.26 PKR 72.8

134.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.53 PKR 148

-11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.35 PKR 96.5

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.51 PKR 141

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.63 PKR 174

-25.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.30 PKR 82.9

16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$0.97 PKR 270

14.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.69 PKR 192

-26.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

$3.47 PKR 963

-68.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 546

$1.84 PKR 511

7.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.20 PKR 56.4

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

$1.80 PKR 499

284.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$1.08 PKR 301

-32.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.21 PKR 57.0

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$1.07 PKR 297

68.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.98 PKR 271

-2.04%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-18.24%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$21.0K PKR 5.8M

11.48%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$57.5 PKR 16.0K

145.36%

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$3.89 PKR 1,080

36.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

$12.75 PKR 3,541

35.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$12.44 PKR 3,454

10.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

$8.09 PKR 2,247

-26.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

$2.18 PKR 605

96.79%

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

$26.76 PKR 7,431

29.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

$681 PKR 189.1K

83.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

$15.92 PKR 4,419

-3.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

$22.24 PKR 6,174

4.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

$59.7 PKR 16.6K

20.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

$26.13 PKR 7,255

16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

13.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$53.6 PKR 14.9K

41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$234 PKR 65.0K

24.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$135 PKR 37.5K

39.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

$3,456 PKR 959.8K

-75.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

$780 PKR 216.5K

-24.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

$135 PKR 37.5K

37.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

10.44%

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

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $84.0 per month, with Bahawalpur 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

Lahore vs Bahawalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahawalpur wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Lahore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bahawalpur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Lahore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $120 in Lahore versus $105 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Lahore versus $337 in Bahawalpur – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 284% less than in Lahore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahawalpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Bahawalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.