🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $414 in Multan versus $449 in Shillong.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $613 in Multan versus $696 in Shillong.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $812 in Multan versus $944 in Shillong.
🙂Living in Multan costs roughly 8% less than in Shillong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Multan69% lower, Shillong67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.18PKR 606
$1.39₹133
56.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.58PKR 2,386
$10.66₹1,016
-19.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19PKR 1,444
$4.56₹434
13.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20PKR 891
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.43PKR 398
$1.18₹112
21.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28PKR 77.0
$0.36₹34.42
-22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.0
$0.12₹11.37
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.43₹136
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.29₹313
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.58PKR 163
$0.65₹61.9
-10.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 168
$0.37₹34.80
62.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04PKR 290
$0.52₹49.58
100.00%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 300
$0.85₹81.2
27.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.93PKR 1,371
$4.41₹420
11.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.57PKR 716
$3.32₹316
-22.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.03PKR 842
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 282
$1.85₹176
-45.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68PKR 188
$0.75₹71.9
-9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 160
$0.92₹87.6
-36.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 143
$0.60₹57.3
-15.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.31₹29.61
22.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.36₹34.14
19.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57PKR 157
$0.37₹35.09
54.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 99.4
$0.17₹15.80
111.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.85PKR 515
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54PKR 428
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94PKR 539
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97PKR 549
$4.08₹389
-51.72%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$4.63₹441
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.53₹146
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.81₹267
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.21₹401
-
🚌 Getting Around
Multan
Shillong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.97
$0.30₹28.77
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.26PKR 2,019
$8.88₹846
-18.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03PKR 286
$0.76₹72.8
35.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31PKR 85.4
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.38PKR 384
$1.48₹141
-6.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 266
$1.15₹110
-17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KPKR 6.2M
$13.9K₹1.3M
60.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KPKR 6.1M
$18.0K₹1.7M
21.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.6K
$39.75₹3,786
158.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84PKR 1,348
$3.31₹315
46.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.62PKR 3,790
$5.70₹543
138.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.96PKR 4,997
$4.59₹437
291.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.52PKR 3,484
$5.93₹565
111.13%
Cinema Ticket
$2.64PKR 734
$2.98₹284
-11.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.00PKR 10.0K
$32.18₹3,065
11.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,755PKR 488.3K
$1,908₹181.7K
-8.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.34PKR 4,547
$25.38₹2,418
-35.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.87PKR 7,752
$35.62₹3,393
-21.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9PKR 19.7K
$45.79₹4,361
54.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.24PKR 8,136
$42.26₹4,025
-30.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Multan
Shillong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$85.3PKR 23.7K
$254₹24.2K
-66.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$58.6PKR 16.3K
$158₹15.0K
-62.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178PKR 49.4K
$466₹44.4K
-61.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$126PKR 34.9K
$319₹30.4K
-60.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Multan
Shillong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180PKR 50.0K
$438₹41.7K
-59.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.43
7.38
136.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Multan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Shillong: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85.3 in Multan and $254 in Shillong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shillong pays 144% 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: $9.00 in Multan vs $11.00 in Shillong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $80.0 vs $94.0 per month, with Multan 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
Multan vs Shillong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shillong cheaper than Multan?
Multan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Multan or Shillong?
On paper, Shillong earns 144% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Multan and Shillong?
Rent for a central apartment: $85.3 in Multan versus $254 in Shillong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $36.00 in Multan versus $32.18 in Shillong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Multan and Shillong?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Shillong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 enough for either Multan or Shillong?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Multan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Multan or Shillong?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Multan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Shillong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.