Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Wah Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Wah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $347 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $528 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $709 in Wah.

Living in Lahore is roughly 42% more expensive than Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Wah 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09 PKR 582
$1.81 PKR 503
15.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.24 PKR 3,961
$10.44 PKR 2,906
36.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.27 PKR 1,189
$3.51 PKR 976
21.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.78 PKR 774
$2.85 PKR 794
-2.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 PKR 1,007
$4.78 PKR 1,330
-24.27%
Cappuccino
$2.34 PKR 651
$1.28 PKR 355
82.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.3
$0.34 PKR 93.3
5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.0
$0.24 PKR 67.2
-4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 PKR 247
$0.75 PKR 209
18.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 PKR 157
$0.60 PKR 166
-5.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 PKR 324
$1.26 PKR 351
-7.14%
Eggs
$1.20 PKR 335
$1.14 PKR 318
5.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.11 PKR 1,700
$6.11 PKR 1,700
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.05 PKR 849
$2.55 PKR 710
19.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.44 PKR 1,234
$3.16 PKR 879
40.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 283
$1.03 PKR 287
-0.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.60 PKR 166
$0.60 PKR 166
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 PKR 168
$0.62 PKR 173
-3.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$0.52 PKR 144
-7.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.32 PKR 90.2
$0.37 PKR 103
-13.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$0.55 PKR 153
-12.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.62 PKR 173
-29.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.43 PKR 119
-11.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.93 PKR 258
$0.95 PKR 263
-2.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 PKR 152
$0.73 PKR 203
-24.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 PKR 309
$1.99 PKR 552
-44.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 PKR 555
$1.87 PKR 521
6.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lahore
Wah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 52.7
$0.16 PKR 44.82
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.98 PKR 1,941
$7.11 PKR 1,978
-1.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 PKR 194
$1.05 PKR 291
-33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 PKR 138
$0.40 PKR 111
22.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 PKR 496
$1.81 PKR 504
-1.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.94 PKR 261
-3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
$22.3K PKR 6.2M
-22.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K PKR 6.6M
$21.4K PKR 6.0M
10.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 PKR 38.3K
$57.8 PKR 16.1K
138.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59 PKR 1,554
$3.78 PKR 1,052
47.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01 PKR 4,733
$13.03 PKR 3,624
30.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.75 PKR 3,824
$12.61 PKR 3,508
9.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73 PKR 1,595
$5.90 PKR 1,643
-2.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 PKR 1,206
$3.60 PKR 1,001
20.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$35.47 PKR 9,869
$28.34 PKR 7,883
25.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,238 PKR 344.3K
$1,133 PKR 315.3K
9.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98 PKR 4,168
$16.04 PKR 4,461
-6.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.69 PKR 6,311
$21.88 PKR 6,087
3.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 PKR 20.2K
$60.1 PKR 16.7K
20.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.85 PKR 8,304
$25.53 PKR 7,101
16.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lahore
Wah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 PKR 32.9K
$75.2 PKR 20.9K
57.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.7 PKR 21.3K
$52.7 PKR 14.7K
45.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 PKR 79.6K
$166 PKR 46.1K
72.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 PKR 52.2K
$105 PKR 29.2K
78.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$843 PKR 234.4K
$1,113 PKR 309.5K
-24.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$615 PKR 171.2K
$583 PKR 162.2K
5.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lahore
Wah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$184 PKR 51.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.88
18
10.44%

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

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Last update for Wah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $75.2 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $10.00 in Wah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $87.0 per month, with Wah 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 Wah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lahore and Wah?
Lahore and Wah differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $347 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lahore compared to Wah?
You'd need roughly $738 in Lahore and $520 in Wah 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lahore and Wah?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Lahore versus $75.2 in Wah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Wah – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Lahore vs Wah?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Lahore and Wah?
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.
Is Lahore or Wah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lahore and Wah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lahore or Wah?
Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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