Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Skardu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Skardu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Lahore versus $437 in Skardu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $661 in Skardu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $885 in Skardu.

Living in Lahore is roughly 14% more expensive than in Skardu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Skardu 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 718

$2.38 PKR 660

8.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$12.05 PKR 3,341

20.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$4.76 PKR 1,319

18.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$2.81 PKR 778

26.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.06 PKR 1,403

9.49%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.44 PKR 399

74.31%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.39 PKR 107

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.23 PKR 64.6

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.87 PKR 242

-2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.59 PKR 164

22.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.15 PKR 320

1.74%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 345

$1.23 PKR 340

1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$6.30 PKR 1,745

1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$2.53 PKR 701

-3.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$5.19 PKR 1,439

-9.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.12 PKR 309

4.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.59 PKR 163

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.74 PKR 205

14.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.46 PKR 128

30.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.31 PKR 86.8

-3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.33 PKR 90.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.33 PKR 90.4

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.38 PKR 104

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.77 PKR 492

-38.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$1.02 PKR 283

-36.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$2.76 PKR 765

-38.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$1.91 PKR 530

12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.72

$0.18 PKR 48.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$8.63 PKR 2,393

-38.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.18 PKR 328

-25.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.77 PKR 213

-10.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.70 PKR 470

4.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.13 PKR 313

11.50%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$19.3K PKR 5.4M

-6.95%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$22.2K PKR 6.1M

19.95%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$103 PKR 28.5K

20.14%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$3.60 PKR 998

43.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,506

$13.74 PKR 3,810

18.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,325

$14.51 PKR 4,023

32.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,944

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$3.93 PKR 1,089

9.41%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$46.28 PKR 12.8K

-4.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.5K

$951 PKR 263.8K

108.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,664

$13.70 PKR 3,798

22.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,110

$19.12 PKR 5,302

34.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$82.6 PKR 22.9K

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,153

$28.62 PKR 7,935

2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$127 PKR 35.1K

19.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$66.6 PKR 18.5K

20.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$253 PKR 70.1K

25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.0K

$162 PKR 44.9K

18.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$901 PKR 249.8K

-6.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.5K

$469 PKR 129.9K

26.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

12.88

10.40%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Skardu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $127 in Skardu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $12.00 in Skardu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $93.0 per month, with Skardu 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 Skardu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Skardu differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $437 including rent). Skardu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $749 in Lahore and $656 in Skardu 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Lahore versus $127 in Skardu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Skardu – a meal for two runs $12.00 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 Skardu 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.

Safety-wise, Lahore and Skardu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Skardu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.