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: $492 in Lahore versus $338 in Bahawalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $531 in Bahawalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $724 in Bahawalpur.

Living in Lahore is roughly 45% more expensive than Bahawalpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Bahawalpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$1.79 PKR 498

16.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$8.97 PKR 2,495

58.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$3.45 PKR 959

23.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.44 PKR 401

93.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$4.67 PKR 1,299

-22.48%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.29 PKR 359

81.40%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.31 PKR 84.9

16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.49 PKR 135

81.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.57 PKR 159

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.30 PKR 360

-10.00%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.03 PKR 285

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$7.35 PKR 2,044

-16.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.67 PKR 743

14.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$3.27 PKR 909

35.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.98 PKR 274

4.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.54 PKR 149

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.26 PKR 72.7

130.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.37 PKR 104

-13.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 141

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.63 PKR 175

-30.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.32 PKR 89.5

18.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.94 PKR 263

-1.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.68 PKR 189

-19.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$3.51 PKR 976

-68.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$1.87 PKR 521

6.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.20 PKR 55.8

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$1.81 PKR 503

285.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.09 PKR 303

-35.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.18 PKR 49.67

172.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.03 PKR 287

72.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.98 PKR 272

-7.14%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

-18.93%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$21.2K PKR 5.9M

12.22%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$57.7 PKR 16.0K

138.71%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$3.87 PKR 1,077

44.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$12.79 PKR 3,559

32.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$12.33 PKR 3,430

11.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$7.85 PKR 2,183

-27.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$2.11 PKR 586

105.69%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,869

$26.12 PKR 7,266

35.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$660 PKR 183.6K

87.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$15.94 PKR 4,433

-6.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$22.13 PKR 6,157

2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$60.7 PKR 16.9K

19.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$26.44 PKR 7,357

12.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$106 PKR 29.6K

11.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$54.0 PKR 15.0K

42.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$225 PKR 62.7K

26.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$135 PKR 37.4K

39.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$3,560 PKR 990.3K

-76.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$760 PKR 211.5K

-19.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$137 PKR 38.1K

34.65%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bahawalpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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: $14.00 in Lahore vs $9.00 in Bahawalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $85.0 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 45% 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.

Lahore pays 35% more on average, 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: $118 in Lahore versus $106 in Bahawalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $492 per month in Lahore versus $338 in Bahawalpur – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bahawalpur runs roughly 286% 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 45% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.