😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $449 in Mianwali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $657 in Mianwali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $865 in Mianwali.
😐Living in Lahore is roughly 9% more expensive than Mianwali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore63% lower, Mianwali66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 582
$2.09PKR 583
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24PKR 3,961
$13.90PKR 3,868
2.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27PKR 1,189
$4.25PKR 1,182
0.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 774
$2.81PKR 782
-1.07%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62PKR 1,007
$3.73PKR 1,037
-2.95%
Cappuccino
$2.34PKR 651
$2.29PKR 638
2.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 99.3
$0.21PKR 57.1
71.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.0
$0.21PKR 58.4
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89PKR 247
$0.64PKR 178
39.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.62PKR 171
-8.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 324
$0.90PKR 249
30.00%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.21PKR 335
-0.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11PKR 1,700
$6.03PKR 1,677
1.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05PKR 849
$2.92PKR 812
4.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.44PKR 1,234
$4.58PKR 1,274
-3.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$1.01PKR 281
0.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.63PKR 176
-4.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$0.57PKR 158
5.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.22PKR 61.2
118.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32PKR 90.2
$0.36PKR 98.8
-11.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.36PKR 101
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 123
$0.44PKR 122
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.38PKR 107
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.93PKR 258
$0.93PKR 259
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55PKR 152
$0.54PKR 151
1.85%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 309
$1.07PKR 298
3.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99PKR 555
$1.98PKR 552
0.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.7
$0.20PKR 55.1
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.98PKR 1,941
$7.16PKR 1,991
-2.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70PKR 194
$0.69PKR 191
1.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 138
$0.49PKR 137
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.78PKR 496
$1.72PKR 479
3.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.90PKR 249
1.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
$23.7KPKR 6.6M
0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138PKR 38.3K
$139PKR 38.6K
-0.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59PKR 1,554
$3.58PKR 995
56.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01PKR 4,733
$16.98PKR 4,724
0.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.75PKR 3,824
$12.33PKR 3,429
11.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73PKR 1,595
$6.05PKR 1,684
-5.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34PKR 1,206
$4.37PKR 1,215
-0.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.47PKR 9,869
$34.38PKR 9,564
3.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,238PKR 344.3K
$1,244PKR 346.0K
-0.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98PKR 4,168
$15.32PKR 4,261
-2.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.69PKR 6,311
$22.60PKR 6,286
0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6PKR 20.2K
$72.3PKR 20.1K
0.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.85PKR 8,304
$30.15PKR 8,388
-1.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118PKR 32.9K
$76.2PKR 21.2K
54.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.7PKR 21.3K
$52.3PKR 14.6K
46.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286PKR 79.6K
$169PKR 47.1K
68.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188PKR 52.2K
$107PKR 29.9K
74.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$843PKR 234.4K
$860PKR 239.2K
-1.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$615PKR 171.2K
$577PKR 160.5K
6.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184PKR 51.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
19.88
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mianwali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $76.2 in Mianwali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $14.00 in Mianwali. Groceries flip the comparison at $93.0 vs $88.0, with Mianwali 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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and Mianwali?
Lahore and Mianwali differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $449 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lahore compared to Mianwali?
You'd need roughly $738 in Lahore and $674 in Mianwali 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lahore and Mianwali?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $76.2 in Mianwali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mianwali – 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.
How far does $800 go in Lahore vs Mianwali?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Mianwali gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Lahore and Mianwali?
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.
Where should expats move: Lahore or Mianwali?
Expats usually find Mianwali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.