Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $494 in Lahore versus $391 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $734 in Lahore versus $589 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $975 in Lahore versus $786 in Mehar.

Living in Lahore is roughly 26% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 PKR 574

$1.81 PKR 502

14.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.41 PKR 4,001

$10.63 PKR 2,952

35.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PKR 1,146

$4.01 PKR 1,114

2.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 762

$1.74 PKR 483

58.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 PKR 1,045

$3.49 PKR 969

7.74%

Cappuccino

$2.28 PKR 633

$1.43 PKR 397

59.44%

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

$0.35 PKR 97.2

$0.31 PKR 87.1

12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.23 PKR 63.9

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.75 PKR 209

22.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.60 PKR 168

3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 326

$1.21 PKR 335

-3.31%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.13 PKR 313

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.22 PKR 1,726

$5.90 PKR 1,639

5.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 PKR 816

$2.59 PKR 718

13.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 PKR 1,257

$3.63 PKR 1,009

24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$1.01 PKR 280

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.64 PKR 179

-7.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.63 PKR 174

-3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.52 PKR 145

-15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.34 PKR 95.0

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.34 PKR 93.2

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.37 PKR 102

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 295

$1.33 PKR 369

-20.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.87 PKR 241

-41.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 297

$2.04 PKR 567

-47.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 530

$1.92 PKR 534

-0.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 51.7

$0.19 PKR 53.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.95 PKR 1,929

$7.05 PKR 1,957

-1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.92 PKR 254

-19.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.40 PKR 111

22.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 495

$1.73 PKR 479

2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.90 PKR 249

4.44%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

-15.73%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$22.7K PKR 6.3M

3.33%

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

$141 PKR 39.0K

$103 PKR 28.5K

36.73%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,547

$3.94 PKR 1,095

41.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.13 PKR 4,756

$13.98 PKR 3,882

22.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.25 PKR 3,680

$12.18 PKR 3,380

8.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 PKR 1,616

$5.88 PKR 1,633

-1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,204

$3.44 PKR 956

26.16%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,847

$29.49 PKR 8,186

20.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,231 PKR 341.7K

$1,128 PKR 313.2K

9.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.32 PKR 4,254

$15.46 PKR 4,292

-0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.85 PKR 6,343

$22.26 PKR 6,180

2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 PKR 20.4K

$70.4 PKR 19.5K

4.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.82 PKR 8,280

$29.10 PKR 8,080

2.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$75.2 PKR 20.9K

58.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 PKR 21.2K

$51.4 PKR 14.3K

48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 PKR 79.0K

$165 PKR 45.9K

72.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 PKR 53.7K

$104 PKR 28.9K

85.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$856 PKR 237.6K

$787 PKR 218.5K

8.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$608 PKR 168.9K

$434 PKR 120.5K

40.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$109 PKR 30.3K

67.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

4.63%

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

Last update for Lahore: July 22, 2026

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Lahore and $75.2 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $86.0 per month, with Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Mehar differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($494 vs $391 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Lahore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Lahore versus $75.2 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mehar – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar 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 Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.