😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $430 in Nawabshah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $631 in Nawabshah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $832 in Nawabshah.
😐Living in Lahore is roughly 14% more expensive than Nawabshah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore63% lower, Nawabshah68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 583
$2.14PKR 594
-2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24PKR 3,962
$12.49PKR 3,476
14.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27PKR 1,189
$3.99PKR 1,111
7.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 774
$2.00PKR 556
39.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62PKR 1,007
$5.20PKR 1,447
-30.38%
Cappuccino
$2.34PKR 652
$1.84PKR 512
27.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 99.3
$0.36PKR 100
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.0
$0.21PKR 58.4
9.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89PKR 247
$0.73PKR 202
21.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.31PKR 85.1
83.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 324
$1.17PKR 324
-
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.02PKR 283
17.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11PKR 1,700
$6.52PKR 1,814
-6.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05PKR 849
$2.19PKR 608
39.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.44PKR 1,234
$3.69PKR 1,026
20.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$1.08PKR 301
-5.56%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.43PKR 120
39.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$0.69PKR 191
-13.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.28PKR 78.8
71.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.32PKR 90.2
$0.28PKR 78.5
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.51PKR 143
-5.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 123
$0.38PKR 107
15.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.40PKR 112
-5.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.93PKR 258
$1.23PKR 343
-24.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.32PKR 366
-58.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 309
$2.13PKR 594
-47.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99PKR 555
$1.66PKR 461
19.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.8
$0.18PKR 50.7
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.98PKR 1,942
$7.28PKR 2,025
-4.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70PKR 194
$0.74PKR 206
-5.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 138
$0.67PKR 187
-26.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.78PKR 496
$1.82PKR 506
-2.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 253
$0.93PKR 259
-2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$16.4KPKR 4.6M
6.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
$25.0KPKR 7.0M
-4.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138PKR 38.3K
$132PKR 36.8K
4.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59PKR 1,555
$4.89PKR 1,360
14.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01PKR 4,734
$13.65PKR 3,797
24.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.75PKR 3,825
$12.35PKR 3,438
11.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73PKR 1,595
$5.78PKR 1,609
-0.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34PKR 1,207
$4.16PKR 1,158
4.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.47PKR 9,872
$57.0PKR 15.9K
-37.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,238PKR 344.4K
$1,377PKR 383.1K
-10.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98PKR 4,169
$17.82PKR 4,958
-15.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.69PKR 6,313
$25.09PKR 6,982
-9.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6PKR 20.2K
$65.7PKR 18.3K
10.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.85PKR 8,306
$35.56PKR 9,895
-16.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118PKR 32.9K
$73.9PKR 20.6K
59.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.7PKR 21.3K
$52.1PKR 14.5K
47.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286PKR 79.6K
$164PKR 45.7K
74.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188PKR 52.2K
$106PKR 29.6K
76.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$843PKR 234.5K
$1,008PKR 280.4K
-16.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$615PKR 171.3K
$530PKR 147.3K
16.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Nawabshah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184PKR 51.3K
$128PKR 35.6K
44.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
17.8
11.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026
Last update for Nawabshah: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $73.9 in Nawabshah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lahore pays 44% 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 $12.00 in Nawabshah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $81.0 per month, with Nawabshah 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 Nawabshah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and Nawabshah?
Lahore and Nawabshah differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $430 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?
Lahore pays 44% more on average, 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 Nawabshah?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $73.9 in Nawabshah. 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 14% 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 Nawabshah – a meal for two runs $12.00 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 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 14% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.