Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Stip Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Stip

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $778 in Stip.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $1,138 in Stip.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $1,497 in Stip.

Living in Lahore costs roughly 37% less than in Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Stip 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$5.74 MKD 302

-63.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$16.11 MKD 849

-11.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$4.92 MKD 259

-13.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$1.89 MKD 99.4

23.81%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$1.74 MKD 92.0

-79.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$1.21 MKD 64.0

-80.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 117

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 MKD 147

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$1.29 MKD 67.9

-31.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.68 MKD 35.66

-16.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$1.10 MKD 58.2

6.36%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$2.10 MKD 111

-42.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$10.32 MKD 544

-40.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$7.23 MKD 381

-57.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$7.43 MKD 392

-40.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.97 MKD 51.2

5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.43 MKD 75.6

-58.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$1.31 MKD 69.0

-54.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$1.58 MKD 83.1

-69.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.93 MKD 48.85

-65.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$1.39 MKD 73.1

-65.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.53 MKD 28.17

-16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.40 MKD 21.30

-5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$3.05 MKD 161

-34.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 MKD 395

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 MKD 95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.63 MKD 33.06

-69.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$20.52 MKD 1,082

-65.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$1.10 MKD 58.1

-36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.49 MKD 25.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$5.61 MKD 296

-68.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.45 MKD 76.2

-37.24%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

-44.66%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-30.87%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$144 MKD 7,568

-4.12%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$9.23 MKD 486

-39.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$15.31 MKD 807

11.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$27.83 MKD 1,467

-50.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.74 MKD 250

-8.44%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,869

$216 MKD 11.4K

-83.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$1,182 MKD 62.3K

4.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$38.03 MKD 2,004

-60.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$31.80 MKD 1,676

-28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$74.6 MKD 3,933

-2.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$114 MKD 6,013

-73.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$207 MKD 10.9K

-42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$133 MKD 7,008

-42.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$344 MKD 18.1K

-16.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$204 MKD 10.8K

-8.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$1,257 MKD 66.3K

-32.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$1,026 MKD 54.1K

-40.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$467 MKD 24.6K

-60.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

7.1

180.00%

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

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Last update for Stip: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $207 in Stip. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 153% 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 $16.00 in Stip for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $185 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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Stip differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $778 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Stip earns 153% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $207 in Stip. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Stip. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lahore – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $16.00 in Stip. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

Safety-wise, Lahore and Stip 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 Lahore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.