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: $490 in Lahore versus $352 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $550 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $748 in Quetta.

Living in Lahore is roughly 39% more expensive than Quetta, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 PKR 593

$3.45 PKR 960

-38.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.90 PKR 3,864

$10.69 PKR 2,972

30.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 PKR 1,197

$4.40 PKR 1,223

-2.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 781

$1.80 PKR 500

56.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$1.57 PKR 435

130.57%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PKR 638

$1.62 PKR 449

41.36%

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

$0.35 PKR 98.0

$0.42 PKR 118

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.22 PKR 61.2

4.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.74 PKR 207

27.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.46 PKR 129

23.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$1.07 PKR 298

14.02%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 336

$1.08 PKR 299

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.96 PKR 1,656

$5.94 PKR 1,652

0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.49 PKR 691

22.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 PKR 1,274

$4.24 PKR 1,178

8.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 294

$1.07 PKR 298

-0.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 176

$0.56 PKR 155

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.57 PKR 158

7.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.52 PKR 145

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.4

$0.29 PKR 80.6

13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 136

$0.50 PKR 139

-2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.35 PKR 98.2

34.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 99.6

$0.30 PKR 83.3

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 PKR 255

$1.42 PKR 395

-35.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.36 PKR 101

52.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 311

$2.15 PKR 598

-47.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 549

$0.72 PKR 201

173.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.6

$0.18 PKR 49.40

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.03 PKR 1,956

$5.36 PKR 1,491

31.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.33 PKR 92.5

112.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.65 PKR 180

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.72 PKR 479

5.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 249

$0.96 PKR 266

-7.29%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

-17.58%

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

$23.7K PKR 6.6M

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

93.33%

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

$136 PKR 37.9K

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

159.53%

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

$5.57 PKR 1,548

$6.38 PKR 1,774

-12.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.55 PKR 4,879

$13.98 PKR 3,887

25.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.25 PKR 3,683

$5.09 PKR 1,415

160.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,682

$5.81 PKR 1,614

4.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 PKR 1,162

$2.89 PKR 804

44.64%

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

$34.74 PKR 9,660

$35.09 PKR 9,756

-1.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,222 PKR 339.8K

$424 PKR 117.8K

188.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.27 PKR 4,245

$7.22 PKR 2,006

111.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.23 PKR 6,458

$6.98 PKR 1,941

232.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 PKR 20.3K

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-18.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.05 PKR 8,355

$29.19 PKR 8,116

2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

71.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.5 PKR 21.0K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

49.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 PKR 80.2K

$157 PKR 43.7K

83.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 PKR 52.9K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

99.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$842 PKR 234.1K

$381 PKR 106.0K

120.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$604 PKR 168.1K

$220 PKR 61.3K

174.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.7K

$213 PKR 59.3K

-14.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

65.67%

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

Last update for Lahore: June 8, 2026

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $69.9 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Quetta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $84.0 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 39% in total monthly costs ($490 vs $352 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Quetta earns 17% less. 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: $120 in Lahore versus $69.9 in Quetta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 $14.00 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 39% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.