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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Lahore vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $727 per month in Lahore vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $970 per month in Lahore vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Lahore is about 9% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lahore and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Lahore 64% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$2.85 PKR 791

-26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$14.26 PKR 3,960

-1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-20.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

$1.72 PKR 477

59.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-4.19%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.97 PKR 547

21.32%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.40 PKR 110

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.96 PKR 268

-2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.66 PKR 183

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.28 PKR 355

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.20 PKR 334

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$6.07 PKR 1,687

1.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$3.37 PKR 937

-10.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$4.35 PKR 1,209

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$1.04 PKR 289

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.84 PKR 234

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.91 PKR 253

-32.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.56 PKR 156

-16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.41 PKR 115

-12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.57 PKR 158

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.31 PKR 85.4

51.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.41 PKR 113

-14.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$2.00 PKR 555

-44.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.93 PKR 258

-45.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

$2.04 PKR 567

-46.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 546

$2.14 PKR 595

-7.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.17 PKR 46.51

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

$7.22 PKR 2,006

-4.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.85 PKR 236

-14.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.43 PKR 120

13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$2.79 PKR 775

-35.48%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-16.34%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-9.66%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$114 PKR 31.6K

24.17%

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-1.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-7.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-37.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

$6.12 PKR 1,699

-2.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

$4.14 PKR 1,150

3.62%

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-42.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

$2,753 PKR 764.5K

-54.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-26.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-15.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-18.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-25.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-39.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-42.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-37.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-44.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-8.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-51.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.2

-1.58%

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

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $120 in Lahore versus $199 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 $14.00 in Lahore versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $100 – 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 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 per month in Lahore and $801 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 6% 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 $14.00 in Lahore and $14.00 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 $484 in Lahore and $534 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.