Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Zaqatala Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Zaqatala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Lahore versus $365 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Lahore versus $599 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Lahore versus $833 in Zaqatala.

Living in Lahore is roughly 33% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Zaqatala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$5.33 ₼9.05

-60.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$20.68 ₼35.15

-32.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$6.97 ₼11.84

-37.59%

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

$2.37 ₼4.03

0.84%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.56 ₼0.96

-35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.55 ₼0.94

-61.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₼3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₼4.89

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.98 ₼1.66

-4.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.39 ₼0.67

46.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$2.19 ₼3.72

-44.75%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.37 ₼2.33

-11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$3.49 ₼5.93

77.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$2.40 ₼4.07

25.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$7.99 ₼13.58

-43.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.73 ₼1.24

45.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$1.15 ₼1.96

-45.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.61 ₼1.04

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.74 ₼1.27

-36.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.30 ₼0.52

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.40 ₼0.68

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.91 ₼1.54

-48.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.56 ₼0.95

-37.50%

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

$1.80 ₼3.06

9.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 ₼15.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.20 ₼0.34

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.61 ₼1.03

57.38%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$33.16 ₼56.4

-58.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$119 ₼202

0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$80.9 ₼137

-6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$239 ₼407

21.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$146 ₼248

28.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

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

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $119 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $131 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 Zaqatala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Zaqatala differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $365 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $726 in Lahore and $547 in Zaqatala 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: $120 in Lahore versus $119 in Zaqatala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Lahore versus $365 in Zaqatala – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.