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: $492 in Lahore versus $366 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $592 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $819 in Zaqatala.

Living in Lahore is roughly 35% more expensive than Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Zaqatala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$5.43 ₼9.24

-61.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$20.33 ₼34.55

-29.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$6.96 ₼11.83

-38.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$2.28 ₼3.88

2.63%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.62 ₼1.05

-41.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.52 ₼0.88

-55.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 ₼3.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₼4.93

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$1.03 ₼1.74

-13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.40 ₼0.67

42.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$2.21 ₼3.76

-47.06%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.42 ₼2.41

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$3.59 ₼6.09

70.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.40 ₼4.09

27.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$8.18 ₼13.91

-45.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.73 ₼1.23

39.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$1.15 ₼1.95

-47.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.57 ₼0.97

5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.74 ₼1.26

-35.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.28 ₼0.47

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.41 ₼0.69

17.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.97 ₼1.64

-54.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.62 ₼1.05

-38.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$1.81 ₼3.08

9.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₼14.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.55

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.20 ₼0.34

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.58 ₼0.99

56.90%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$34.42 ₼58.5

-60.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

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

$35.47 PKR 9,869

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$118 ₼201

-0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$83.7 ₼142

-8.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$232 ₼394

23.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$145 ₼246

29.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $14.00 in Lahore vs $20.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $133 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 35% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $366 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $738 in Lahore and $548 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: $118 in Lahore versus $118 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 $20.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $492 per month in Lahore versus $366 in Zaqatala – a 35% 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 35% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.