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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Lahore is about 15% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 719

$3.57 PKR 990

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,037

$22.74 PKR 6,309

-36.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,570

$5.47 PKR 1,517

3.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 989

$3.55 PKR 986

0.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,537

$6.71 PKR 1,862

-17.44%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$2.39 PKR 663

5.02%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.32 PKR 90.0

34.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.22 PKR 60.8

18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.99 PKR 275

-14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.79 PKR 220

-8.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.28 PKR 354

-8.59%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.28 PKR 356

-2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,779

$6.11 PKR 1,695

4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 679

$3.06 PKR 849

-19.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,311

$5.12 PKR 1,421

-7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.34 PKR 371

-12.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.84 PKR 232

-21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.02 PKR 282

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.49 PKR 135

22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.29 PKR 81.2

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.33 PKR 90.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.29 PKR 80.8

55.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 106

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.90 PKR 528

-42.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.38 PKR 383

-52.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$2.35 PKR 652

-27.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.28 PKR 632

-5.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.76

$0.16 PKR 44.31

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$21.23 PKR 5,889

-75.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.27 PKR 353

-30.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.69 PKR 191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.65 PKR 459

7.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.32 PKR 365

-4.55%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-66.67%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

5.94%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$102 PKR 28.3K

21.08%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,433

$5.83 PKR 1,618

-11.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,509

$16.34 PKR 4,534

-0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,329

$29.09 PKR 8,071

-33.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,946

$8.93 PKR 2,478

18.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,192

$5.01 PKR 1,390

-14.17%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-41.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.9K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-61.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,668

$23.55 PKR 6,532

-28.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,115

$32.68 PKR 9,066

-21.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,158

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-45.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-44.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$577 PKR 160.1K

-45.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.1K

$266 PKR 73.9K

-28.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 233.1K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

-48.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.7K

$829 PKR 230.1K

-28.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.9K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-51.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Lahore versus $277 in Islamabad. 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 $15.00 in Lahore versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $95.0 vs $103 – 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

Lahore vs Islamabad: 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 $749 per month in Lahore and $884 in Islamabad. 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 $15.00 in Lahore and $23.00 in Islamabad. 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 $500 in Lahore and $589 in Islamabad, 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.