🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $421 in Mianwali versus $500 in Lahore.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $613 in Mianwali versus $765 in Lahore.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $805 in Mianwali versus $1,030 in Lahore.
🌍Living in Mianwali costs roughly 16% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mianwali69% lower, Lahore64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58PKR 716
$2.59PKR 719
-0.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.03PKR 2,228
$14.55PKR 4,034
-44.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.72PKR 1,586
$5.66PKR 1,569
1.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.62PKR 1,004
$3.56PKR 988
1.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39PKR 1,495
$5.54PKR 1,536
-2.71%
Cappuccino
$1.09PKR 304
$2.51PKR 697
-56.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26PKR 72.2
$0.43PKR 119
-39.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19PKR 52.7
$0.26PKR 72.7
-26.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.66PKR 183
$0.85PKR 237
-22.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52PKR 143
$0.72PKR 199
-27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12PKR 312
$1.17PKR 325
-4.27%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 339
$1.25PKR 346
-2.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.42PKR 1,780
$6.41PKR 1,778
0.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.42PKR 395
$2.45PKR 678
-42.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.67PKR 1,017
$4.72PKR 1,310
-22.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16PKR 320
$1.17PKR 323
-0.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$0.66PKR 182
1.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69PKR 192
$0.85PKR 235
-18.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45PKR 126
$0.60PKR 167
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30PKR 84.1
$0.30PKR 83.9
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.32PKR 90.1
$0.33PKR 90.9
-3.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.45PKR 124
6.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 100
$0.36PKR 101
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.10PKR 304
$1.09PKR 303
0.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.62PKR 171
$0.65PKR 180
-4.62%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65PKR 457
$1.71PKR 475
-3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07PKR 296
$2.15PKR 596
-50.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 48.52
$0.18PKR 49.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.28PKR 2,572
$5.27PKR 1,461
76.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75PKR 209
$0.88PKR 243
-14.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35PKR 96.6
$0.69PKR 192
-49.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.64PKR 456
$1.77PKR 490
-7.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09PKR 301
$1.26PKR 350
-13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$18.0KPKR 5.0M
-1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KPKR 7.4M
$26.6KPKR 7.4M
0.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109PKR 30.2K
$124PKR 34.3K
-12.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.29PKR 913
$5.17PKR 1,432
-36.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.15PKR 4,478
$16.25PKR 4,507
-0.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.87PKR 2,182
$19.21PKR 5,325
-59.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.50PKR 1,526
$10.62PKR 2,944
-48.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,170
$4.30PKR 1,191
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.93PKR 12.5K
$44.27PKR 12.3K
1.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,043PKR 566.4K
$1,982PKR 549.5K
3.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.26PKR 3,675
$16.83PKR 4,665
-21.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.24PKR 3,949
$25.65PKR 7,111
-44.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6PKR 20.4K
$75.3PKR 20.9K
-2.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$8.77PKR 2,432
$29.41PKR 8,153
-70.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125PKR 34.6K
$151PKR 42.0K
-17.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.0PKR 19.4K
$80.3PKR 22.3K
-12.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234PKR 65.0K
$317PKR 87.9K
-26.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$139PKR 38.5K
$191PKR 53.1K
-27.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$844PKR 234.0K
$840PKR 232.9K
0.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$478PKR 132.6K
$594PKR 164.6K
-19.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mianwali
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$183PKR 50.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.22
14.22
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mianwali: September 1, 2026
Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Mianwali and $151 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Mianwali vs $15.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $81.0 vs $95.0 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 in Lahore?
Mianwali and Lahore differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($421 vs $500 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 $631 in Mianwali and $749 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 in Lahore?
Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Mianwali versus $151 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 17% 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 $8.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Mianwali compared to 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 19% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.