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: $491 in Lahore versus $424 in Mardan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $733 in Lahore versus $638 in Mardan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $974 in Lahore versus $851 in Mardan.

Living in Lahore is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mardan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Mardan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 573

$2.06 PKR 571

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.19 PKR 3,938

$14.31 PKR 3,970

-0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.30 PKR 1,193

$5.36 PKR 1,487

-19.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 PKR 765

$1.73 PKR 479

59.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 PKR 1,012

$4.00 PKR 1,110

-8.75%

Cappuccino

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.00 PKR 556

14.00%

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

$0.33 PKR 91.2

$0.31 PKR 87.1

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.24 PKR 66.7

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 242

$0.77 PKR 214

12.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.62 PKR 171

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 337

$0.84 PKR 233

45.24%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.19 PKR 331

2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 PKR 1,679

$6.33 PKR 1,756

-4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 PKR 824

$2.31 PKR 641

28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 PKR 1,271

$3.26 PKR 904

40.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 296

$0.69 PKR 191

55.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.55 PKR 152

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.96 PKR 268

-36.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.33 PKR 92.6

42.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.24 PKR 66.6

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.37 PKR 102

32.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 91.8

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 99.1

$0.13 PKR 35.05

176.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.10 PKR 306

$1.43 PKR 396

-23.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.88 PKR 243

-37.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.96 PKR 543

-45.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.43 PKR 398

39.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.62

$0.18 PKR 49.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.25 PKR 2,011

$6.89 PKR 1,911

5.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 201

$0.36 PKR 101

102.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.34 PKR 94.9

44.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 499

$1.81 PKR 502

-0.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.89 PKR 248

1.12%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

-15.95%

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

$23.2K PKR 6.4M

$26.3K PKR 7.3M

-11.83%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$112 PKR 31.1K

25.84%

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

$5.33 PKR 1,480

$5.55 PKR 1,540

-3.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.36 PKR 4,819

$18.45 PKR 5,120

-5.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.27 PKR 3,683

$12.30 PKR 3,414

7.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 PKR 1,615

$5.99 PKR 1,664

-2.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$4.26 PKR 1,181

0.47%

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

$35.23 PKR 9,779

$17.48 PKR 4,851

101.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 PKR 341.4K

$1,112 PKR 308.7K

10.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.42 PKR 4,278

$21.33 PKR 5,920

-27.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.35 PKR 6,481

$27.63 PKR 7,669

-15.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

$89.2 PKR 24.8K

-17.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.02 PKR 8,330

$17.39 PKR 4,827

72.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$121 PKR 33.5K

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

59.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.4 PKR 21.2K

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

47.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$167 PKR 46.3K

74.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 PKR 52.0K

$105 PKR 29.1K

78.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 PKR 234.7K

$867 PKR 240.6K

-2.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$598 PKR 166.0K

$511 PKR 141.9K

16.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.1K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mardan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $121 in Lahore and $75.5 in Mardan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $14.00 in Mardan. Groceries flip the comparison at $93.0 vs $79.0, 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 16% in total monthly costs ($491 vs $424 including rent). Mardan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $737 in Lahore and $636 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: $121 in Lahore versus $75.5 in Mardan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 $14.00 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 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 16% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.