Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Nowshera Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Nowshera

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Lahore versus $499 in Nowshera.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $767 in Nowshera.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $1,035 in Nowshera.

Monthly costs are close between Lahore and Nowshera; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 719

$3.53 PKR 979

-26.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$23.17 PKR 6,423

-37.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$5.46 PKR 1,513

3.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$3.54 PKR 982

0.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$7.00 PKR 1,940

-20.86%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$2.48 PKR 688

1.21%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.33 PKR 90.2

30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.24 PKR 66.8

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.94 PKR 261

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.74 PKR 206

-2.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.26 PKR 348

-7.14%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.23 PKR 342

1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$5.89 PKR 1,632

8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$3.19 PKR 885

-23.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$5.07 PKR 1,407

-6.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.27 PKR 352

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.82 PKR 228

-19.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.07 PKR 297

-20.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.46 PKR 128

30.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.27 PKR 74.6

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.32 PKR 89.8

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.27 PKR 74.7

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 106

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.85 PKR 513

-41.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.38 PKR 381

-52.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$2.48 PKR 687

-31.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.40 PKR 665

-10.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.73

$0.20 PKR 55.6

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$11.34 PKR 3,144

-53.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.24 PKR 344

-29.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.70 PKR 195

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.64 PKR 454

7.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$21.8K PKR 6.1M

-17.67%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

5.82%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$103 PKR 28.4K

20.55%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$5.88 PKR 1,630

-12.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,507

$16.19 PKR 4,489

0.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,325

$15.94 PKR 4,420

20.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,944

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$4.73 PKR 1,312

-9.09%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

-40.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.5K

$999 PKR 277.0K

98.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,665

$23.51 PKR 6,518

-28.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,111

$31.94 PKR 8,855

-19.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$82.4 PKR 22.8K

-8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,153

$39.52 PKR 11.0K

-25.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$115 PKR 31.9K

31.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$76.3 PKR 21.2K

5.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$277 PKR 76.9K

14.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.1K

$159 PKR 44.1K

20.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$808 PKR 224.0K

3.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.6K

$538 PKR 149.2K

10.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Nowshera: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $115 in Nowshera. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $23.00 in Nowshera for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $101 per month, with Lahore 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 Nowshera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $749 in Lahore and $749 in Nowshera 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Lahore versus $115 in Nowshera. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Nowshera runs roughly 115% less than in Lahore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nowshera 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.

It comes down to priorities – Nowshera wins on affordability, Lahore on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.