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: $500 in Lahore versus $304 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $515 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $726 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Lahore is roughly 64% more expensive than in Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Bahawalpur 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 719

$1.76 PKR 488

47.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,037

$7.23 PKR 2,004

101.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,570

$4.43 PKR 1,229

27.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 989

$2.50 PKR 694

42.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,537

$2.20 PKR 610

151.82%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.50 PKR 415

67.33%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.31 PKR 85.6

38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.19 PKR 53.0

36.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.56 PKR 156

51.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.43 PKR 120

67.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.04 PKR 288

12.50%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.00 PKR 276

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,779

$8.77 PKR 2,434

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 679

$2.51 PKR 696

-2.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,311

$4.08 PKR 1,133

15.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.04 PKR 290

12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.56 PKR 155

17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.58 PKR 160

46.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.48 PKR 133

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.31 PKR 86.6

-3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.50 PKR 139

-34.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.50 PKR 138

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 104

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.51 PKR 143

113.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.56 PKR 156

16.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$0.74 PKR 206

131.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.00 PKR 554

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.10 PKR 306

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.06 PKR 294

-34.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$2.94 PKR 815

-39.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.14 PKR 317

10.53%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-24.33%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

24.33%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$68.3 PKR 19.0K

80.92%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,433

$4.44 PKR 1,230

16.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,509

$11.59 PKR 3,214

40.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,329

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,946

$10.99 PKR 3,049

-3.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,192

$7.28 PKR 2,019

-40.93%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$23.81 PKR 6,605

85.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.9K

$660 PKR 183.1K

200.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,668

$16.45 PKR 4,564

2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,115

$21.94 PKR 6,086

16.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$53.1 PKR 14.7K

41.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,158

$29.16 PKR 8,089

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$257 PKR 71.4K

23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.1K

$126 PKR 34.9K

52.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 233.1K

$3,462 PKR 960.4K

-75.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.7K

$760 PKR 211.0K

-21.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$136 PKR 37.6K

35.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

11.83

20.20%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lahore pays 35% 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $7.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $91.0 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 64% 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 35% higher in Lahore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $500 per month in Lahore versus $304 in Bahawalpur – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 64% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.