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: $500 in Lahore versus $392 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $596 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $800 in Jhelum.

Living in Lahore is roughly 28% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Jhelum 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 718

$1.79 PKR 495

44.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,033

$10.81 PKR 2,995

34.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$5.27 PKR 1,460

7.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$2.54 PKR 704

40.16%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$2.22 PKR 615

149.55%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.52 PKR 421

65.13%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.30 PKR 81.8

-13.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.64 PKR 177

32.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.61 PKR 168

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.23 PKR 340

-4.88%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

$1.22 PKR 339

2.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,777

$2.57 PKR 713

149.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$2.32 PKR 643

5.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$2.72 PKR 754

73.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.09 PKR 302

7.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.35 PKR 96.6

88.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.54 PKR 150

57.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.47 PKR 129

27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.8

$0.31 PKR 86.9

-3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.35 PKR 95.7

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.50 PKR 138

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.42 PKR 117

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.82 PKR 506

-40.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.55 PKR 154

18.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 474

$2.72 PKR 753

-37.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.33 PKR 645

-7.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.71

$0.17 PKR 46.47

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$8.75 PKR 2,424

-39.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.10 PKR 304

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.05 PKR 291

-34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$2.82 PKR 781

-37.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.12 PKR 309

12.50%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-22.16%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

16.39%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$66.8 PKR 18.5K

85.00%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-6.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,506

$14.61 PKR 4,049

11.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,324

$12.94 PKR 3,586

48.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,943

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$7.25 PKR 2,008

-40.69%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$26.69 PKR 7,397

65.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.4K

$2,005 PKR 555.6K

-1.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,664

$18.80 PKR 5,210

-10.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,109

$26.60 PKR 7,373

-3.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$54.3 PKR 15.0K

38.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,151

$30.28 PKR 8,392

-2.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$116 PKR 32.3K

30.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.2K

$79.7 PKR 22.1K

0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$243 PKR 67.3K

30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$152 PKR 42.1K

26.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$991 PKR 274.5K

-15.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.5K

$534 PKR 148.1K

11.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

11.83

20.20%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $116 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $70.0 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $749 in Lahore and $587 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: $151 in Lahore versus $116 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% 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 $11.00 versus $15.00 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 28% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.