Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Salto Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Salto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Lahore versus $801 in Salto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $1,245 in Salto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $1,688 in Salto.

Living in Lahore costs roughly 38% less than in Salto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Salto 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 718

$6.63 R$33.76

-60.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,033

$27.05 R$138

-46.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$6.73 R$34.30

-15.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.79 R$9.10

40.22%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$1.09 R$5.56

-60.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.73 R$3.73

-64.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 R$13.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 R$14.47

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$1.00 R$5.08

-15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$1.67 R$8.52

-56.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.10 R$5.62

6.36%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

$2.57 R$13.07

-51.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,777

$8.63 R$43.94

-25.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$3.64 R$18.52

-32.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$9.52 R$48.47

-50.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$2.77 R$14.09

-57.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$1.76 R$8.96

-62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$1.74 R$8.84

-51.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$1.76 R$8.94

-65.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.8

$1.33 R$6.78

-77.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$1.36 R$6.94

-75.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.87 R$4.44

-48.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.50 R$2.53

-28.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 474

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.53 R$12.88

-15.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.65 R$44.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 R$8.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 R$21.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.71

$0.79 R$4.05

-77.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.28 R$6.50

-31.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.37 R$7.00

-49.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$9.29 R$47.31

-80.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.09 R$5.54

15.60%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$22.8K R$116.3K

-21.29%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$32.4K R$165.0K

-17.90%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$38.87 R$198

218.03%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$9.45 R$48.13

-45.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,506

$17.70 R$90.1

-8.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,324

$24.97 R$127

-23.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,943

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$2.94 R$14.95

46.26%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$249 R$1,266

-82.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.4K

$7,415 R$37.8K

-73.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,664

$53.2 R$271

-68.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,109

$57.2 R$291

-55.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$91.4 R$466

-17.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,151

$81.2 R$413

-63.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.2K

$232 R$1,181

-65.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$589 R$3,001

-46.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$378 R$1,926

-49.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

11.12

27.88%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Salto: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $27.00 in Salto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $204 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 Salto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Salto differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $801 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $749 in Lahore and $1,202 in Salto 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 115% higher in Salto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $500 per month in Lahore versus $801 in Salto – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Lahore 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 Lahore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Salto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.