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: $484 in Lahore versus $324 in Jhelum.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Lahore versus $510 in Jhelum.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Lahore versus $696 in Jhelum.

Living in Lahore is roughly 49% more expensive than in Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Jhelum 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$1.73 PKR 481

20.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$10.43 PKR 2,895

34.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$3.61 PKR 1,001

20.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

$2.88 PKR 800

-4.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

$4.69 PKR 1,303

-21.96%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.50 PKR 417

59.33%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.31 PKR 86.0

16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.61 PKR 170

54.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.59 PKR 164

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.29 PKR 359

-6.20%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.19 PKR 331

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$5.15 PKR 1,431

20.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$2.44 PKR 679

23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$3.05 PKR 848

49.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.98 PKR 272

8.16%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.58 PKR 162

8.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.62 PKR 172

-1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.51 PKR 141

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.38 PKR 104

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.54 PKR 150

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.20 PKR 54.4

135.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.24 PKR 66.8

45.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$0.95 PKR 263

16.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.68 PKR 189

-25.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

$2.05 PKR 570

-46.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 546

$0.85 PKR 235

131.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.17 PKR 46.33

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

$7.16 PKR 1,988

-3.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$1.09 PKR 302

-33.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.49 PKR 135

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$1.74 PKR 482

3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.97 PKR 270

-1.03%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$21.7K PKR 6.0M

-19.34%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

9.54%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$52.2 PKR 14.5K

170.51%

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$2.79 PKR 775

90.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

$12.93 PKR 3,591

34.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$12.36 PKR 3,433

11.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

$5.90 PKR 1,637

0.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

$3.45 PKR 958

24.35%

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

$17.80 PKR 4,942

94.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

$1,152 PKR 319.8K

8.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

$16.09 PKR 4,469

-4.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

$22.13 PKR 6,145

5.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

$60.1 PKR 16.7K

19.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

$25.89 PKR 7,189

18.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

58.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

47.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$165 PKR 45.8K

76.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$104 PKR 28.9K

80.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

$899 PKR 249.7K

-6.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

$543 PKR 150.7K

8.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $75.5 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 $94.0 vs $78.0 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $726 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: $120 in Lahore versus $75.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% 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 49% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.