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: $492 in Lahore versus $429 in Rawalpindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $679 in Rawalpindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $929 in Rawalpindi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 15% more expensive than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$1.78 PKR 496

17.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$14.22 PKR 3,957

0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$5.29 PKR 1,470

-19.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.54 PKR 429

80.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$3.40 PKR 947

6.47%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.73 PKR 481

35.26%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.32 PKR 88.9

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.23 PKR 64.2

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.79 PKR 219

12.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.57 PKR 158

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.23 PKR 343

-4.88%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.12 PKR 311

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.09 PKR 1,693

0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$3.39 PKR 944

-10.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$4.57 PKR 1,271

-2.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.67 PKR 186

-10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.92 PKR 257

-34.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.47 PKR 132

2.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.33 PKR 93.2

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.52 PKR 144

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.26 PKR 72.7

69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.37 PKR 102

2.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$16.44 PKR 4,573

-94.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$1.04 PKR 288

-47.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$2.41 PKR 669

-53.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$1.90 PKR 528

4.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.18 PKR 49.36

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$9.89 PKR 2,751

-29.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.91 PKR 253

-23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.35 PKR 97.5

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.97 PKR 826

-40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 PKR 267

-5.21%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-3.50%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

4.45%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$100 PKR 28.0K

37.03%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$3.99 PKR 1,111

40.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$16.64 PKR 4,630

2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$10.14 PKR 2,821

35.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$7.67 PKR 2,134

-25.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$3.60 PKR 1,003

20.56%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,868

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

-10.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$962 PKR 267.6K

28.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$11.80 PKR 3,282

26.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$18.84 PKR 5,242

20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-17.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$28.38 PKR 7,896

5.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$130 PKR 36.1K

-8.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

15.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$324 PKR 90.1K

-11.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$173 PKR 48.1K

8.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

-28.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$516 PKR 143.5K

19.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$171 PKR 47.6K

7.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

20.17

-1.44%

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

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 8% 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: $14.00 in Lahore vs $14.00 in Rawalpindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $95.0 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 15% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $429 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lahore pays 8% more on average, 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: $118 in Lahore versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 2% 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 $14.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 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 15% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.