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: $484 in Lahore versus $774 in Stip.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Lahore versus $1,153 in Stip.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Lahore versus $1,532 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 64% lower, Stip 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$5.80 MKD 311

-63.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$15.99 MKD 858

-12.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$4.95 MKD 265

-12.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$1.98 MKD 106

20.71%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$1.76 MKD 94.4

-79.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$1.23 MKD 66.0

-82.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 MKD 123

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 MKD 142

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.33 MKD 71.1

-29.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.67 MKD 36.06

-14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.12 MKD 59.9

8.04%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$2.03 MKD 109

-40.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$10.33 MKD 554

-40.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$7.34 MKD 394

-58.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$7.50 MKD 402

-39.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.90 MKD 48.50

17.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$1.38 MKD 73.9

-54.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$1.31 MKD 70.2

-53.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$1.63 MKD 87.4

-71.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.99 MKD 52.9

-63.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$1.37 MKD 73.7

-64.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.58 MKD 31.00

-18.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.41 MKD 21.99

-14.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 546

$2.95 MKD 158

-33.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 MKD 408

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 MKD 53.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 MKD 95.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.64 MKD 34.33

-71.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

$19.79 MKD 1,062

-65.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$1.16 MKD 62.1

-37.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.53 MKD 28.36

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$5.61 MKD 301

-67.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$1.49 MKD 79.9

-35.57%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

-44.91%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-31.83%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$147 MKD 7,908

-4.24%

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$9.36 MKD 502

-43.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

$15.45 MKD 829

12.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$27.94 MKD 1,499

-50.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

$4.75 MKD 255

-9.68%

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

$219 MKD 11.7K

-84.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

$1,186 MKD 63.6K

5.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

$36.87 MKD 1,978

-58.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

$31.76 MKD 1,704

-26.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

$75.4 MKD 4,046

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

$114 MKD 6,101

-73.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$209 MKD 11.2K

-42.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$133 MKD 7,145

-43.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$338 MKD 18.1K

-13.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$203 MKD 10.9K

-7.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

$1,228 MKD 65.9K

-31.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

$988 MKD 53.0K

-40.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

$463 MKD 24.8K

-59.98%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Stip: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $209 in Stip. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 150% 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 $94.0 vs $186 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 60% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $774 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 150% lower in Stip. 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: $120 in Lahore versus $209 in Stip. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 97% 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 60% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.