Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Mehar and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $390 in Mehar versus $492 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $584 in Mehar versus $746 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $778 in Mehar versus $1,001 in Lahore.

Living in Mehar costs roughly 21% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mehar 71% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 PKR 488
$2.09 PKR 583
-16.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.59 PKR 2,946
$14.24 PKR 3,962
-25.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.99 PKR 1,110
$4.27 PKR 1,189
-6.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 PKR 484
$2.78 PKR 774
-37.41%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 PKR 957
$3.62 PKR 1,007
-4.97%
Cappuccino
$1.44 PKR 402
$2.34 PKR 652
-38.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 PKR 96.3
$0.36 PKR 99.3
-2.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.1
$0.23 PKR 64.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 PKR 216
$0.89 PKR 247
-12.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 156
$0.57 PKR 157
-1.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 334
$1.17 PKR 324
2.56%
Eggs
$1.17 PKR 326
$1.20 PKR 335
-2.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.12 PKR 1,703
$6.11 PKR 1,700
0.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.68 PKR 747
$3.05 PKR 849
-12.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.77 PKR 1,050
$4.44 PKR 1,234
-15.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 289
$1.02 PKR 283
1.96%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 PKR 180
$0.60 PKR 166
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.61 PKR 170
$0.60 PKR 168
1.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$0.48 PKR 133
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 105
$0.32 PKR 90.2
18.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 PKR 141
$0.48 PKR 133
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.1
$0.44 PKR 123
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 93.7
$0.38 PKR 106
-10.53%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.49 PKR 416
$0.93 PKR 258
60.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 PKR 259
$0.55 PKR 152
69.09%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 565
$1.11 PKR 309
82.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 PKR 535
$1.99 PKR 555
-3.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.2
$0.19 PKR 52.8
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.24 PKR 2,013
$6.98 PKR 1,942
3.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.70 PKR 194
30.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 122
$0.49 PKR 138
-10.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 PKR 507
$1.78 PKR 496
2.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.91 PKR 253
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
23.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K PKR 6.5M
$23.8K PKR 6.6M
-2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.6K
$138 PKR 38.3K
-25.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.08 PKR 1,136
$5.59 PKR 1,555
-27.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.55 PKR 3,770
$17.01 PKR 4,734
-20.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.53 PKR 3,487
$13.75 PKR 3,825
-8.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98 PKR 1,665
$5.73 PKR 1,595
4.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.52 PKR 980
$4.34 PKR 1,207
-18.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$30.10 PKR 8,377
$35.47 PKR 9,872
-15.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,126 PKR 313.4K
$1,238 PKR 344.4K
-9.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.93 PKR 4,155
$14.98 PKR 4,169
-0.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.83 PKR 6,076
$22.69 PKR 6,313
-3.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 PKR 19.5K
$72.6 PKR 20.2K
-3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.41 PKR 8,183
$29.85 PKR 8,306
-1.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$73.9 PKR 20.6K
$118 PKR 32.9K
-37.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.8 PKR 14.1K
$76.7 PKR 21.3K
-33.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$167 PKR 46.6K
$286 PKR 79.6K
-41.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 PKR 29.5K
$188 PKR 52.2K
-43.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,059 PKR 294.8K
$843 PKR 234.5K
25.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$463 PKR 128.9K
$615 PKR 171.3K
-24.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mehar
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$106 PKR 29.5K
$184 PKR 51.3K
-42.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19
19.88
-4.43%

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

Last update for Mehar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Mehar and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Mehar vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $93.0 per month, with Mehar 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
Mehar vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mehar and Lahore?
Mehar and Lahore differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($390 vs $492 including rent). Mehar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lahore earns 74% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mehar and Lahore?
Rent for a central apartment: $73.9 in Mehar versus $118 in Lahore. 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 Mehar – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Mehar vs Lahore?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Mehar 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 Mehar and Lahore?
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.
Where should expats move: Mehar or Lahore?
Expats usually find Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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