😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Lahore versus $421 in Mianwali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $613 in Mianwali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $805 in Mianwali.
🌍Living in Lahore is roughly 19% more expensive than in Mianwali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore64% lower, Mianwali69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59PKR 719
$2.58PKR 716
0.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.55PKR 4,034
$8.03PKR 2,228
81.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.66PKR 1,569
$5.72PKR 1,586
-1.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56PKR 988
$3.62PKR 1,004
-1.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54PKR 1,536
$5.39PKR 1,495
2.78%
Cappuccino
$2.51PKR 697
$1.09PKR 304
130.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.26PKR 72.2
65.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26PKR 72.7
$0.19PKR 52.7
36.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85PKR 237
$0.66PKR 183
28.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72PKR 199
$0.52PKR 143
38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 325
$1.12PKR 312
4.46%
Eggs
$1.25PKR 346
$1.22PKR 339
2.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41PKR 1,778
$6.42PKR 1,780
-0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.45PKR 678
$1.42PKR 395
72.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.72PKR 1,310
$3.67PKR 1,017
28.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17PKR 323
$1.16PKR 320
0.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.66PKR 182
$0.67PKR 186
-1.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85PKR 235
$0.69PKR 192
23.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 167
$0.45PKR 126
33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30PKR 83.9
$0.30PKR 84.1
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.33PKR 90.9
$0.32PKR 90.1
3.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45PKR 124
$0.48PKR 134
-6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.36PKR 100
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.09PKR 303
$1.10PKR 304
-0.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.65PKR 180
$0.62PKR 171
4.84%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71PKR 475
$1.65PKR 457
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15PKR 596
$1.07PKR 296
100.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.73
$0.18PKR 48.52
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.27PKR 1,461
$9.28PKR 2,572
-43.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88PKR 243
$0.75PKR 209
17.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69PKR 192
$0.35PKR 96.6
97.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.77PKR 490
$1.64PKR 456
7.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26PKR 350
$1.09PKR 301
15.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
1.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
$26.8KPKR 7.4M
-0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124PKR 34.3K
$109PKR 30.2K
13.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.17PKR 1,432
$3.29PKR 913
57.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.25PKR 4,507
$16.15PKR 4,478
0.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.21PKR 5,325
$7.87PKR 2,182
144.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.62PKR 2,944
$5.50PKR 1,526
93.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30PKR 1,191
$4.22PKR 1,170
1.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.27PKR 12.3K
$44.93PKR 12.5K
-1.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,982PKR 549.5K
$2,043PKR 566.4K
-2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.83PKR 4,665
$13.26PKR 3,675
26.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.65PKR 7,111
$14.24PKR 3,949
80.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3PKR 20.9K
$73.6PKR 20.4K
2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.41PKR 8,153
$8.77PKR 2,432
235.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$151PKR 42.0K
$125PKR 34.6K
21.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$80.3PKR 22.3K
$70.0PKR 19.4K
14.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317PKR 87.9K
$234PKR 65.0K
35.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191PKR 53.1K
$139PKR 38.5K
37.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$840PKR 232.9K
$844PKR 234.0K
-0.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$594PKR 164.6K
$478PKR 132.6K
24.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Mianwali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$183PKR 50.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.22
14.22
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mianwali: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $125 in Mianwali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $8.00 in Mianwali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $81.0 per month, with Mianwali 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 Mianwali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and in Mianwali?
Lahore and Mianwali differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $421 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 $749 in Lahore and $631 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 in Mianwali?
Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Lahore versus $125 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 17% 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 $8.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Lahore compared to 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 19% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.