🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $353 in Nowshera versus $484 in Lahore.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in Nowshera versus $727 in Lahore.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $805 in Nowshera versus $970 in Lahore.
🌍Living in Nowshera costs roughly 27% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nowshera74% lower, Lahore64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89PKR 804
$2.09PKR 580
38.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.31PKR 3,974
$14.06PKR 3,903
1.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35PKR 1,486
$4.35PKR 1,207
22.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79PKR 498
$2.75PKR 765
-34.91%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92PKR 1,090
$3.66PKR 1,018
7.10%
Cappuccino
$2.05PKR 569
$2.39PKR 663
-14.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 118
$0.36PKR 98.7
19.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.7
$0.21PKR 58.3
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79PKR 220
$0.94PKR 260
-15.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 172
$0.57PKR 158
8.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 337
$1.21PKR 337
-
Eggs
$1.13PKR 313
$1.21PKR 337
-6.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.34PKR 1,760
$6.18PKR 1,717
2.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.76PKR 768
$3.02PKR 839
-8.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.91PKR 1,086
$4.55PKR 1,263
-14.07%
Apples(1kg)
$0.59PKR 164
$1.06PKR 293
-44.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.40PKR 112
$0.63PKR 175
-36.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89PKR 246
$0.61PKR 169
45.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60PKR 167
$0.47PKR 131
27.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 114
$0.36PKR 98.8
13.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33PKR 92.5
$0.48PKR 132
-31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31PKR 84.8
$0.47PKR 131
-34.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37PKR 102
$0.35PKR 98.3
5.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.48PKR 412
$1.11PKR 308
33.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85PKR 235
$0.51PKR 143
66.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37PKR 381
$1.10PKR 306
24.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16PKR 600
$1.97PKR 546
9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.59
$0.18PKR 51.2
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.23PKR 2,008
$6.92PKR 1,922
4.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 254
$0.73PKR 202
26.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 121
$0.49PKR 137
-12.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.77PKR 768
$1.80PKR 501
53.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98PKR 271
$0.96PKR 266
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KPKR 5.8M
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
19.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KPKR 7.2M
$23.4KPKR 6.5M
9.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.81PKR 7,999
$141PKR 39.2K
-79.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.11PKR 585
$5.31PKR 1,473
-60.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.46PKR 3,183
$17.33PKR 4,811
-33.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.55PKR 3,486
$13.73PKR 3,813
-8.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92PKR 1,642
$5.94PKR 1,649
-0.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21PKR 1,168
$4.29PKR 1,191
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$59.1PKR 16.4K
$34.60PKR 9,608
70.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,108PKR 307.8K
$1,253PKR 347.9K
-11.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.24PKR 5,898
$15.40PKR 4,276
37.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.23PKR 7,839
$23.27PKR 6,462
21.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.6PKR 24.3K
$71.8PKR 19.9K
21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.80PKR 11.3K
$30.56PKR 8,486
33.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.9PKR 21.1K
$120PKR 33.3K
-36.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.1PKR 14.2K
$75.9PKR 21.1K
-32.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$166PKR 46.0K
$291PKR 80.9K
-43.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$104PKR 28.9K
$188PKR 52.2K
-44.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$871PKR 241.8K
$844PKR 234.5K
3.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$531PKR 147.6K
$590PKR 163.7K
-9.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nowshera
Lahore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$185PKR 51.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
19.88
1.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nowshera: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.9 in Nowshera and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Nowshera vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $94.0 per month, with Nowshera 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
Nowshera vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nowshera and in Lahore?
Nowshera and Lahore differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($353 vs $484 including rent). Nowshera is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nowshera compared to Lahore?
You'd need roughly $529 in Nowshera and $726 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 Nowshera and in Lahore?
Rent for a central apartment: $75.9 in Nowshera versus $120 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 8% 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 Nowshera – 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 $1,200 go in Nowshera compared to Lahore?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nowshera 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 Nowshera 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: Nowshera or Lahore?
Expats usually find Nowshera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.