Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Jhelum Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Jhelum

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $325 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $512 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $700 in Jhelum.

Living in Lahore is roughly 52% more expensive than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Jhelum 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$1.78 PKR 496

17.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$10.47 PKR 2,911

36.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$3.58 PKR 996

19.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$2.90 PKR 806

-4.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$4.90 PKR 1,363

-26.12%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.51 PKR 419

54.97%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.33 PKR 91.9

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.56 PKR 156

58.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.59 PKR 165

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.26 PKR 351

-7.14%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.15 PKR 320

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$5.06 PKR 1,408

20.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.38 PKR 662

28.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$3.07 PKR 854

44.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$1.03 PKR 287

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.54 PKR 151

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.63 PKR 175

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 142

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.35 PKR 96.9

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.55 PKR 154

-12.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.19 PKR 51.5

131.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.22 PKR 61.2

72.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.01 PKR 282

-7.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.73 PKR 204

-24.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.98 PKR 550

-43.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$0.84 PKR 235

136.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.18 PKR 51.0

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$6.92 PKR 1,924

0.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.07 PKR 299

-34.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.53 PKR 148

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.79 PKR 497

-0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.97 PKR 269

-6.19%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-21.87%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$20.8K PKR 5.8M

14.14%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$52.9 PKR 14.7K

160.19%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$2.87 PKR 799

94.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$13.02 PKR 3,623

30.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$12.58 PKR 3,500

9.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$5.85 PKR 1,628

-2.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.44 PKR 957

26.16%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,868

$17.79 PKR 4,950

99.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$1,111 PKR 309.1K

11.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$16.17 PKR 4,498

-7.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$22.32 PKR 6,210

1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$59.8 PKR 16.6K

21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$26.22 PKR 7,294

13.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$74.5 PKR 20.7K

58.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$52.4 PKR 14.6K

46.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$164 PKR 45.5K

74.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$108 PKR 29.9K

74.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$851 PKR 236.6K

-0.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$454 PKR 126.3K

35.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

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 Jhelum: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $10.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $76.0 per month, with Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $738 in Lahore and $487 in Jhelum to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jhelum 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.

Safety-wise, Lahore and Jhelum are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.