🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $449 in Mianwali versus $492 in Lahore.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Mianwali versus $746 in Lahore.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $865 in Mianwali versus $1,001 in Lahore.
🙂Living in Mianwali costs roughly 9% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mianwali66% lower, Lahore63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09PKR 583
$2.09PKR 582
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.90PKR 3,868
$14.24PKR 3,961
-2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.25PKR 1,182
$4.27PKR 1,189
-0.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81PKR 782
$2.78PKR 774
1.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73PKR 1,037
$3.62PKR 1,007
3.04%
Cappuccino
$2.29PKR 638
$2.34PKR 651
-2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 57.1
$0.36PKR 99.3
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.4
$0.23PKR 64.0
-8.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64PKR 178
$0.89PKR 247
-28.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 171
$0.57PKR 157
8.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90PKR 249
$1.17PKR 324
-23.08%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 335
$1.20PKR 335
0.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,677
$6.11PKR 1,700
-1.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92PKR 812
$3.05PKR 849
-4.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.58PKR 1,274
$4.44PKR 1,234
3.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 281
$1.02PKR 283
-0.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 176
$0.60PKR 166
5.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$0.60PKR 168
-5.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.48PKR 133
-54.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 98.8
$0.32PKR 90.2
12.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.48PKR 133
-25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.44PKR 123
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 107
$0.38PKR 106
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.93PKR 259
$0.93PKR 258
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.54PKR 151
$0.55PKR 152
-1.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07PKR 298
$1.11PKR 309
-3.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98PKR 552
$1.99PKR 555
-0.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.1
$0.19PKR 52.7
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.16PKR 1,991
$6.98PKR 1,941
2.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 191
$0.70PKR 194
-1.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49PKR 137
$0.49PKR 138
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72PKR 479
$1.78PKR 496
-3.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 249
$0.91PKR 253
-1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KPKR 6.6M
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
-0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139PKR 38.6K
$138PKR 38.3K
0.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58PKR 995
$5.59PKR 1,554
-35.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.98PKR 4,724
$17.01PKR 4,733
-0.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.33PKR 3,429
$13.75PKR 3,824
-10.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05PKR 1,684
$5.73PKR 1,595
5.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37PKR 1,215
$4.34PKR 1,206
0.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.38PKR 9,564
$35.47PKR 9,869
-3.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,244PKR 346.0K
$1,238PKR 344.3K
0.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.32PKR 4,261
$14.98PKR 4,168
2.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.60PKR 6,286
$22.69PKR 6,311
-0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3PKR 20.1K
$72.6PKR 20.2K
-0.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.15PKR 8,388
$29.85PKR 8,304
1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.2PKR 21.2K
$118PKR 32.9K
-35.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.3PKR 14.6K
$76.7PKR 21.3K
-31.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$169PKR 47.1K
$286PKR 79.6K
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.9K
$188PKR 52.2K
-42.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$860PKR 239.2K
$843PKR 234.4K
2.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$577PKR 160.5K
$615PKR 171.2K
-6.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$184PKR 51.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.88
19.88
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mianwali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.2 in Mianwali and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Mianwali vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $88.0 vs $93.0 per month, with Mianwali 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
Mianwali vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mianwali and Lahore?
Mianwali and Lahore differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($449 vs $492 including rent). Mianwali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mianwali compared to Lahore?
You'd need roughly $674 in Mianwali and $738 in Lahore 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mianwali and Lahore?
Rent for a central apartment: $76.2 in Mianwali 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 Mianwali – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Mianwali vs Lahore?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Mianwali 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 Mianwali 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: Mianwali or Lahore?
Expats usually find Mianwali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.