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: $511 in Lahore versus $356 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Lahore versus $578 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,055 in Lahore versus $799 in Zaqatala.

Living in Lahore is roughly 44% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 PKR 708

$4.68 ₼7.96

-45.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.52 PKR 4,022

$20.63 ₼35.07

-29.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PKR 1,563

$5.28 ₼8.97

6.82%

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

$2.41 ₼4.10

10.37%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.60 ₼1.02

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 65.9

$0.51 ₼0.87

-52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 ₼2.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ₼5.13

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.97 ₼1.65

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.40 ₼0.68

70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 338

$2.18 ₼3.70

-44.04%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 338

$1.40 ₼2.38

-12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.37 PKR 1,764

$3.50 ₼5.94

82.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 PKR 696

$2.33 ₼3.97

7.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 PKR 1,331

$8.19 ₼13.92

-41.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 PKR 322

$0.79 ₼1.35

46.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$1.21 ₼2.06

-46.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.62 ₼1.05

45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$0.68 ₼1.16

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.5

$0.28 ₼0.47

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.40 ₼0.69

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.91 ₼1.55

-49.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.56 ₼0.96

-35.71%

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

$1.78 ₼3.03

19.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 ₼15.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₼2.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₼3.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.22

$0.18 ₼0.30

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.48 PKR 1,518

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 PKR 256

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PKR 508

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.66 ₼1.13

93.94%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

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

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

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

$129 PKR 35.6K

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

$5.08 PKR 1,408

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,496

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.31 PKR 5,905

$33.56 ₼57.0

-36.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PKR 1,217

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

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 PKR 4,795

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.36 PKR 7,302

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.11 PKR 8,619

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$119 ₼202

33.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

$82.4 ₼140

0.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 PKR 92.7K

$239 ₼406

40.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 PKR 54.7K

$145 ₼247

35.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$781 PKR 216.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 PKR 165.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 PKR 52.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.28

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

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Lahore and $119 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Lahore vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96.0 vs $132 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 44% in total monthly costs ($511 vs $356 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $767 in Lahore and $534 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: $159 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 $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $511 per month in Lahore versus $356 in Zaqatala – a 44% 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 44% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.