Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $511 in Lahore versus $503 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Lahore versus $776 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,055 in Lahore versus $1,050 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 2% more expensive than in Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Rawalpindi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 708

$2.09 PKR 580

22.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.52 PKR 4,022

$16.42 PKR 4,548

-11.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PKR 1,563

$5.81 PKR 1,611

-2.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

$1.84 PKR 511

96.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 PKR 1,524

$3.48 PKR 963

58.05%

Cappuccino

$2.66 PKR 738

$1.92 PKR 532

38.54%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.40 PKR 111

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-4.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.86 PKR 239

5.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.59 PKR 163

15.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.20 PKR 333

1.67%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.15 PKR 318

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 PKR 1,764

$6.21 PKR 1,721

2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$3.47 PKR 962

-27.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,331

$5.18 PKR 1,436

-7.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$1.19 PKR 329

-2.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$0.85 PKR 236

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 250

$1.27 PKR 352

-29.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.57 PKR 157

8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.38 PKR 107

-21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.49 PKR 135

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.33 PKR 92.3

39.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.42 PKR 117

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 295

$15.90 PKR 4,406

-93.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 PKR 178

$1.18 PKR 327

-45.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

$2.44 PKR 677

-29.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 590

$1.94 PKR 539

9.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.22

$0.19 PKR 53.2

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.48 PKR 1,518

$10.07 PKR 2,789

-45.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.94 PKR 261

-2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.34 PKR 93.9

117.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PKR 508

$3.14 PKR 869

-41.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.17 PKR 323

9.40%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$17.7K PKR 4.9M

0.51%

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

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

11.77%

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

$129 PKR 35.6K

$112 PKR 31.1K

14.60%

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

$5.08 PKR 1,408

$5.76 PKR 1,594

-11.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,496

$18.29 PKR 5,067

-11.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.31 PKR 5,905

$11.83 PKR 3,278

80.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

$6.79 PKR 1,881

62.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PKR 1,217

$4.30 PKR 1,191

2.09%

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

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

$48.80 PKR 13.5K

-6.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

$852 PKR 235.9K

131.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,795

$20.89 PKR 5,787

-17.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.36 PKR 7,302

$28.53 PKR 7,903

-7.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

$93.5 PKR 25.9K

-20.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.11 PKR 8,619

$35.66 PKR 9,879

-12.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$201 PKR 55.7K

-20.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

$82.3 PKR 22.8K

0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.7K

$430 PKR 119.1K

-22.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$226 PKR 62.6K

-12.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$781 PKR 216.3K

$1,149 PKR 318.2K

-32.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.3K

$517 PKR 143.2K

15.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.7K

$173 PKR 48.0K

9.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

22.81

-37.40%

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

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Lahore and $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 10% 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $16.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 vs $103 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 Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Rawalpindi differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($511 vs $503 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Lahore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Lahore versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawalpindi – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.