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: $511 in Lahore versus $853 in Stip.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Lahore versus $1,260 in Stip.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,055 in Lahore versus $1,667 in Stip.

Living in Lahore costs roughly 40% less than in Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Stip 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 708

$7.53 MKD 398

-66.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.52 PKR 4,022

$23.64 MKD 1,249

-38.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PKR 1,563

$6.78 MKD 358

-16.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 PKR 1,524

Cappuccino

$2.66 PKR 738

$1.86 MKD 98.2

43.01%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$1.55 MKD 82.0

-72.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$1.16 MKD 61.4

-79.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 MKD 97.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MKD 154

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$1.27 MKD 67.2

-28.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.82 MKD 43.07

-17.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.16 MKD 61.5

5.17%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$2.59 MKD 137

-52.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 PKR 1,764

$8.69 MKD 459

-26.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$7.52 MKD 397

-66.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,331

$7.69 MKD 406

-37.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$0.93 MKD 49.25

24.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$1.43 MKD 75.3

-54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 250

$1.39 MKD 73.5

-35.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$1.72 MKD 90.8

-63.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.93 MKD 48.93

-67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.89 MKD 46.77

-60.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.59 MKD 31.21

-22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.42 MKD 22.08

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 295

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 PKR 178

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 PKR 590

$3.26 MKD 172

-34.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 MKD 402

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 57.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 81.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.22

$0.65 MKD 34.21

-73.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.48 PKR 1,518

$22.86 MKD 1,208

-76.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

$1.14 MKD 60.3

-19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.68 MKD 35.94

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PKR 508

$5.79 MKD 306

-68.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.52 MKD 80.5

-15.79%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$36.7K MKD 1.9M

-51.59%

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

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

$28.1K MKD 1.5M

-4.26%

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

$129 PKR 35.6K

$165 MKD 8,691

-21.86%

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

$5.08 PKR 1,408

$9.36 MKD 495

-45.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,496

$17.13 MKD 905

-5.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.31 PKR 5,905

$28.13 MKD 1,486

-24.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PKR 1,217

$6.64 MKD 351

-33.89%

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

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

$381 MKD 20.1K

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

$5,594 MKD 295.6K

-64.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,795

$38.16 MKD 2,016

-54.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.36 PKR 7,302

$31.71 MKD 1,675

-16.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

$108 MKD 5,689

-31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.11 PKR 8,619

$114 MKD 6,022

-72.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$209 MKD 11.0K

-23.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

$131 MKD 6,901

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.7K

$341 MKD 18.0K

-1.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$204 MKD 10.8K

-3.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$781 PKR 216.3K

$1,246 MKD 65.9K

-37.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.3K

$1,000 MKD 52.8K

-40.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.7K

$472 MKD 24.9K

-59.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

4.25

236.00%

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

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Last update for Stip: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Lahore and $209 in Stip. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 148% 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $24.00 in Stip for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 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 67% in total monthly costs ($511 vs $853 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 148% 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: $159 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 93% 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 $15.00 versus $24.00 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 67% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.