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: $500 in Lahore versus $423 in Wah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $635 in Wah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $848 in Wah.

Living in Lahore is roughly 18% more expensive than in Wah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Wah 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 719

$1.85 PKR 512

40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$10.91 PKR 3,024

33.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$5.31 PKR 1,473

6.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$2.46 PKR 681

44.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$2.14 PKR 592

158.88%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$1.28 PKR 356

96.09%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.30 PKR 84.6

43.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.26 PKR 72.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.78 PKR 217

8.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.60 PKR 166

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.23 PKR 341

-4.88%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.19 PKR 331

5.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$8.54 PKR 2,367

-24.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$2.57 PKR 712

-4.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$3.96 PKR 1,097

19.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$1.08 PKR 299

8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.66 PKR 183

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.54 PKR 149

57.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.51 PKR 140

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.31 PKR 86.2

-3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.53 PKR 146

-37.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.51 PKR 141

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.43 PKR 118

-16.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$0.53 PKR 146

105.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.53 PKR 146

22.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$0.70 PKR 193

144.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.35 PKR 651

-8.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.73

$0.20 PKR 56.4

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$11.14 PKR 3,088

-52.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$1.06 PKR 293

-16.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$1.10 PKR 305

-37.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$2.87 PKR 796

-38.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.11 PKR 309

13.51%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

-22.13%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

15.87%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$67.2 PKR 18.6K

83.96%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$5.54 PKR 1,536

-6.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,507

$14.31 PKR 3,968

13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,325

$13.69 PKR 3,795

40.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,944

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$7.14 PKR 1,980

-39.78%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$26.72 PKR 7,408

65.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.5K

$2,048 PKR 567.9K

-3.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,665

$18.69 PKR 5,182

-9.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,111

$26.49 PKR 7,345

-3.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

38.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,153

$29.16 PKR 8,084

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$118 PKR 32.8K

27.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$266 PKR 73.7K

19.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.1K

$140 PKR 38.8K

36.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$911 PKR 252.6K

-7.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.6K

$554 PKR 153.6K

7.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

11.83

20.20%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Wah: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $118 in Wah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $11.00 in Wah. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $97.0, with Lahore cheaper for home cooking.

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

Lahore and Wah differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $423 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $749 in Lahore and $635 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Lahore versus $118 in Wah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Wah – a meal for two runs $11.00 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 Wah 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 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.

Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.