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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $492 per month in Lahore vs $529 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $746 per month in Lahore vs $835 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,001 per month in Lahore vs $1,141 in Islamabad, rent included.

Lahore is about 7% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lahore and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Lahore 63% lower, Islamabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$2.80 PKR 779

-25.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$14.22 PKR 3,955

0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$5.44 PKR 1,512

-21.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.72 PKR 478

61.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$4.00 PKR 1,112

-9.50%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$2.00 PKR 557

17.00%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.43 PKR 119

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.22 PKR 61.1

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.94 PKR 260

-5.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.62 PKR 173

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.21 PKR 338

-3.31%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.07 PKR 1,689

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$3.39 PKR 942

-10.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$4.38 PKR 1,218

1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.78 PKR 216

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.93 PKR 260

-35.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.60 PKR 166

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.41 PKR 115

-21.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.54 PKR 149

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.34 PKR 93.3

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 103

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.93 PKR 537

-51.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.90 PKR 251

-38.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.99 PKR 552

-44.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$2.14 PKR 596

-7.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.19 PKR 52.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$6.90 PKR 1,920

1.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.86 PKR 238

-18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.44 PKR 122

11.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.81 PKR 782

-36.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-19.29%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

-9.07%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

23.22%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$5.44 PKR 1,512

2.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$18.81 PKR 5,234

-9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$22.19 PKR 6,174

-38.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$6.04 PKR 1,679

-5.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.21 PKR 1,171

3.09%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,868

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

-41.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

-55.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$21.57 PKR 5,999

-30.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$27.63 PKR 7,685

-17.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

-17.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-25.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$198 PKR 55.1K

-40.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$112 PKR 31.1K

-31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$513 PKR 142.6K

-44.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$296 PKR 82.3K

-36.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

-45.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$657 PKR 182.9K

-6.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$387 PKR 107.8K

-52.38%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Lahore versus $198 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 110% 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: $93.0 vs $98.0 – 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 8%, 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 $738 per month in Lahore and $794 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 $492 in Lahore and $529 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.