Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $518 in Lahore versus $420 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Lahore versus $617 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,046 in Lahore versus $814 in Quetta.

Living in Lahore is roughly 24% more expensive than in Quetta, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 62% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 PKR 705

$3.70 PKR 1,026

-31.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 PKR 4,039

$10.78 PKR 2,987

35.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 PKR 1,552

$4.53 PKR 1,255

23.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 PKR 1,006

$1.81 PKR 502

100.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 PKR 1,527

$5.27 PKR 1,460

4.55%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PKR 702

$1.59 PKR 442

59.12%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$0.39 PKR 107

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.20 PKR 54.4

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.69 PKR 192

34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 PKR 197

$0.56 PKR 155

26.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.23 PKR 341

-4.88%

Eggs

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.22 PKR 337

-4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 PKR 1,756

$4.93 PKR 1,366

28.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 PKR 722

$2.83 PKR 785

-7.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 PKR 1,333

$5.12 PKR 1,419

-6.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.93 PKR 258

31.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$0.57 PKR 159

12.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.69 PKR 190

31.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.55 PKR 153

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.30 PKR 82.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.56 PKR 156

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.43 PKR 118

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.39 PKR 108

-5.13%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.75 PKR 485

-37.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.08 PKR 300

-44.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$2.84 PKR 788

-39.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 PKR 584

$2.09 PKR 579

0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.1

$0.13 PKR 36.35

53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.43 PKR 1,503

$10.27 PKR 2,845

-47.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 PKR 246

$1.04 PKR 288

-14.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.43 PKR 120

60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 PKR 512

$1.78 PKR 493

3.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.07 PKR 296

23.36%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

-25.17%

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

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

10.31%

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

$128 PKR 35.5K

$103 PKR 28.5K

24.54%

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

$5.32 PKR 1,474

$8.11 PKR 2,246

-34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.62 PKR 4,603

$16.41 PKR 4,547

1.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.06 PKR 5,833

$5.78 PKR 1,602

264.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,982

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 PKR 1,172

$3.33 PKR 923

27.03%

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

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

$34.78 PKR 9,635

29.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,988 PKR 550.8K

$995 PKR 275.5K

99.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,794

$8.08 PKR 2,237

114.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 PKR 7,601

$22.81 PKR 6,318

20.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

8.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.91 PKR 8,840

$34.10 PKR 9,446

-6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 PKR 45.0K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

127.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

68.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 PKR 94.4K

$165 PKR 45.8K

106.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 PKR 56.1K

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

103.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 PKR 224.3K

$376 PKR 104.3K

115.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.5K

$219 PKR 60.6K

173.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$274 PKR 75.9K

-30.11%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Lahore and $71.4 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Quetta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $89.0 per month, with Quetta 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 Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Quetta differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($518 vs $420 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Quetta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $162 in Lahore versus $71.4 in Quetta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Quetta – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Quetta 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.

Expats usually find Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.