😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $380 in Rahim Yar Khan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $531 in Rahim Yar Khan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $683 in Rahim Yar Khan.
😐Living in Lahore is roughly 30% more expensive than Rahim Yar Khan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore63% lower, Rahim Yar Khan72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 582
$1.76PKR 489
18.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24PKR 3,961
$8.74PKR 2,430
62.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27PKR 1,189
$3.36PKR 934
27.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 774
$1.73PKR 481
60.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62PKR 1,007
$3.16PKR 880
14.56%
Cappuccino
$2.34PKR 651
$0.84PKR 233
178.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 99.3
$0.24PKR 67.2
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.0
$0.16PKR 44.39
43.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89PKR 247
$0.60PKR 166
48.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.60PKR 167
-5.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 324
$1.08PKR 300
8.33%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 335
$1.08PKR 299
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11PKR 1,700
$4.22PKR 1,175
44.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05PKR 849
$2.20PKR 611
38.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.44PKR 1,234
$3.12PKR 868
42.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02PKR 283
$0.87PKR 241
17.24%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 166
$0.72PKR 199
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$0.58PKR 161
3.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.48PKR 133
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.32PKR 90.2
$0.37PKR 103
-13.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$0.40PKR 111
20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 123
$0.56PKR 157
-21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 106
$0.29PKR 79.8
31.03%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.93PKR 258
$1.78PKR 495
-47.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.60PKR 446
-65.63%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11PKR 309
$1.85PKR 515
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99PKR 555
$2.00PKR 557
-0.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 52.7
$0.20PKR 54.6
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.98PKR 1,941
$6.90PKR 1,918
1.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70PKR 194
$1.07PKR 299
-34.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 138
$0.41PKR 113
19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.78PKR 496
$1.37PKR 382
29.93%
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
$22.7KPKR 6.3M
-23.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
$21.8KPKR 6.1M
8.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138PKR 38.3K
$104PKR 29.1K
31.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59PKR 1,554
$3.25PKR 903
72.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01PKR 4,733
$13.99PKR 3,892
21.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.75PKR 3,824
$14.07PKR 3,914
-2.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73PKR 1,595
$5.98PKR 1,663
-4.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34PKR 1,206
$2.61PKR 726
66.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.47PKR 9,869
$17.53PKR 4,878
102.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,238PKR 344.3K
$886PKR 246.4K
39.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98PKR 4,168
$12.17PKR 3,386
23.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.69PKR 6,311
$21.01PKR 5,844
8.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6PKR 20.2K
$52.8PKR 14.7K
37.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.85PKR 8,304
$28.71PKR 7,986
3.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118PKR 32.9K
$81.1PKR 22.6K
45.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.7PKR 21.3K
$62.5PKR 17.4K
22.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286PKR 79.6K
$110PKR 30.7K
158.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188PKR 52.2K
$94.8PKR 26.4K
97.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$843PKR 234.4K
$975PKR 271.2K
-13.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$615PKR 171.2K
$510PKR 141.8K
20.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Rahim Yar Khan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184PKR 51.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
17.43
14.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rahim Yar Khan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $81.1 in Rahim Yar Khan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $9.00 in Rahim Yar Khan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $75.0 per month, with Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan?
Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $380 including rent). Rahim Yar Khan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lahore compared to Rahim Yar Khan?
You'd need roughly $738 in Lahore and $569 in Rahim Yar Khan 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $81.1 in Rahim Yar Khan. 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 24% 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 Rahim Yar Khan – a meal for two runs $9.00 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 Rahim Yar Khan?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Rahim Yar Khan 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 Rahim Yar Khan?
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 Rahim Yar Khan?
Expats usually find Rahim Yar Khan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.