Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Mardan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Mardan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $518 in Lahore versus $500 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Lahore versus $767 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,046 in Lahore versus $1,033 in Mardan.

Living in Lahore is roughly 4% more expensive than in Mardan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 62% lower, Mardan 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 PKR 705

$3.59 PKR 994

-29.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 PKR 4,039

$23.00 PKR 6,371

-36.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 PKR 1,552

$5.53 PKR 1,531

1.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 PKR 1,006

$3.59 PKR 994

1.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$6.92 PKR 1,918

-20.38%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 702

$2.62 PKR 725

-3.44%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.36 PKR 98.5

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.23 PKR 64.0

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.91 PKR 252

2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.79 PKR 220

-10.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.29 PKR 357

-9.30%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.21 PKR 336

-3.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,756

$2.97 PKR 823

113.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 PKR 722

$3.12 PKR 864

-16.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 PKR 1,333

$3.74 PKR 1,035

28.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.94 PKR 260

29.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.74 PKR 205

-13.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.06 PKR 295

-14.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.37 PKR 103

78.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.28 PKR 78.3

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.35 PKR 98.2

-8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.28 PKR 76.4

64.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.37 PKR 103

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.77 PKR 489

-38.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.18 PKR 326

-49.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$2.69 PKR 746

-35.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 584

$1.78 PKR 493

18.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.16 PKR 43.23

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.43 PKR 1,503

$10.72 PKR 2,970

-49.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.30 PKR 359

-31.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.74 PKR 205

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.66 PKR 460

11.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.02 PKR 283

29.41%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

-16.13%

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

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

11.35%

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

$128 PKR 35.5K

$104 PKR 28.9K

23.06%

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

$5.32 PKR 1,474

$5.69 PKR 1,575

-6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.62 PKR 4,603

$15.72 PKR 4,353

5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.06 PKR 5,833

$14.73 PKR 4,079

42.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,982

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,172

$4.34 PKR 1,203

-2.53%

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

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

-40.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 PKR 550.8K

$1,028 PKR 284.9K

93.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,794

$24.74 PKR 6,852

-30.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 PKR 7,601

$34.30 PKR 9,501

-20.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

$98.1 PKR 27.2K

-22.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.91 PKR 8,840

$40.71 PKR 11.3K

-21.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 45.0K

$128 PKR 35.4K

27.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

$78.1 PKR 21.6K

6.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 PKR 94.4K

$250 PKR 69.4K

36.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 PKR 56.1K

$151 PKR 41.7K

34.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 PKR 224.3K

$994 PKR 275.4K

-18.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.5K

$591 PKR 163.8K

1.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 PKR 53.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

13.08

9.17%

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

Last update for Lahore: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mardan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Lahore and $128 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $23.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $85.0, with Mardan cheaper for home cooking.

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 Mardan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Mardan differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($518 vs $500 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $777 in Lahore and $750 in Mardan 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: $162 in Lahore versus $128 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mardan – a meal for two runs $23.00 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 Mardan 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.

Expats usually find Mardan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.