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: $500 in Lahore versus $439 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $654 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $870 in Mehar.

Living in Lahore is roughly 14% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Mehar 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.02 PKR 561

28.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$10.95 PKR 3,034

32.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$6.01 PKR 1,666

-5.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$2.62 PKR 726

35.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.02 PKR 1,392

10.36%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.56 PKR 433

60.90%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 90.7

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.20 PKR 55.7

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.82 PKR 228

3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.64 PKR 176

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.18 PKR 327

-0.85%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$5.99 PKR 1,662

7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$2.65 PKR 735

-7.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$4.86 PKR 1,346

-2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.19 PKR 331

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.56 PKR 156

17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.73 PKR 203

16.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.49 PKR 135

22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.31 PKR 87.0

-3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.35 PKR 96.6

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.34 PKR 95.4

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.33 PKR 92.1

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.98 PKR 550

-44.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.14 PKR 317

-42.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$2.31 PKR 642

-25.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.45 PKR 678

-12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.72

$0.20 PKR 54.2

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$9.99 PKR 2,770

-47.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.13 PKR 313

-22.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.61 PKR 170

13.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.73 PKR 480

2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.16 PKR 322

8.62%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

-21.90%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$28.7K PKR 8.0M

-7.27%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$95.3 PKR 26.4K

29.73%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-6.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,506

$14.66 PKR 4,063

10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,325

$14.55 PKR 4,034

32.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,944

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$4.38 PKR 1,213

-1.83%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.5K

$944 PKR 261.7K

110.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,664

$13.64 PKR 3,781

23.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,110

$22.66 PKR 6,283

13.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$65.6 PKR 18.2K

14.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,153

$27.72 PKR 7,685

6.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$126 PKR 34.9K

20.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$77.7 PKR 21.6K

3.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$255 PKR 70.6K

24.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$149 PKR 41.2K

28.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$953 PKR 264.2K

-11.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.5K

$510 PKR 141.3K

16.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

$106 PKR 29.5K

72.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

12.88

10.40%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mehar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $126 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 72% 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $92.0 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 14% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $439 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 72% 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: $151 in Lahore versus $126 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% 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 $15.00 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 14% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.