😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $511 in Lahore versus $459 in Nawabshah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Lahore versus $696 in Nawabshah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,055 in Lahore versus $933 in Nawabshah.
🌍Living in Lahore is roughly 11% more expensive than in Nawabshah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore63% lower, Nawabshah67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56PKR 708
$2.18PKR 603
17.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.52PKR 4,022
$14.36PKR 3,979
1.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.64PKR 1,563
$5.50PKR 1,524
2.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61PKR 1,001
$2.13PKR 590
69.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50PKR 1,524
$7.18PKR 1,988
-23.40%
Cappuccino
$2.66PKR 738
$2.27PKR 630
17.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$0.33PKR 92.2
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 65.9
$0.23PKR 63.7
4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 252
$0.88PKR 243
3.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68PKR 188
$0.55PKR 153
23.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 338
$1.25PKR 346
-2.40%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 338
$1.26PKR 349
-3.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.37PKR 1,764
$6.21PKR 1,719
2.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.51PKR 696
$3.08PKR 853
-18.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.80PKR 1,331
$6.19PKR 1,715
-22.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16PKR 322
$1.23PKR 340
-5.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65PKR 181
$0.55PKR 153
18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90PKR 250
$1.03PKR 285
-12.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62PKR 172
$0.55PKR 153
12.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30PKR 83.5
$0.34PKR 94.6
-11.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35PKR 97.8
$0.31PKR 84.7
12.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46PKR 128
$0.36PKR 101
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.40PKR 111
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.06PKR 295
$1.23PKR 342
-13.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.64PKR 178
$1.35PKR 375
-52.59%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73PKR 478
$2.48PKR 687
-30.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13PKR 590
$1.84PKR 511
15.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 46.22
$0.20PKR 54.7
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.48PKR 1,518
$9.75PKR 2,702
-43.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 256
$0.69PKR 190
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74PKR 205
$0.74PKR 205
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.83PKR 508
$2.18PKR 604
-16.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28PKR 354
$1.32PKR 365
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$18.1KPKR 5.0M
-2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KPKR 7.4M
$26.9KPKR 7.4M
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129PKR 35.6K
$103PKR 28.4K
25.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.08PKR 1,408
$5.83PKR 1,615
-12.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.23PKR 4,496
$12.87PKR 3,566
26.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.31PKR 5,905
$14.74PKR 4,084
44.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.03PKR 3,056
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.39PKR 1,217
$4.41PKR 1,223
-0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.79PKR 12.7K
$49.84PKR 13.8K
-8.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,968PKR 545.1K
$1,339PKR 370.9K
46.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.31PKR 4,795
$14.91PKR 4,131
16.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.36PKR 7,302
$22.57PKR 6,253
16.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1PKR 20.5K
$65.0PKR 18.0K
14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.11PKR 8,619
$34.91PKR 9,671
-10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$159PKR 44.1K
$125PKR 34.7K
27.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.8PKR 22.9K
$76.3PKR 21.1K
8.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$334PKR 92.7K
$249PKR 69.1K
34.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197PKR 54.7K
$149PKR 41.2K
32.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$781PKR 216.3K
$902PKR 250.0K
-13.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$597PKR 165.3K
$520PKR 144.0K
14.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$190PKR 52.7K
$127PKR 35.3K
49.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.28
12.88
10.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026
Last update for Nawabshah: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Lahore and $125 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lahore pays 49% 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 $14.00 in Nawabshah. Groceries flip the comparison at $96.0 vs $101, with Lahore 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and in Nawabshah?
Lahore and Nawabshah differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($511 vs $459 including rent). Nawabshah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lahore or Nawabshah?
Average pay runs 49% higher in Lahore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lahore and in Nawabshah?
Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Lahore versus $125 in Nawabshah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nawabshah – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Nawabshah?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah?
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 Nawabshah?
Expats usually find Nawabshah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.