Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Name: Sri Lanka
Address: LK

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $621 in Sri Lanka, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. The total is higher in Sri Lanka despite lower rent and utilities.

23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
Learn more

Pakistan Living Index
30

Cost of Living Index in Sri Lanka
Learn more

Sri Lanka Living Index

Jump to prices

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$621

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Pakistan versus $621 in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan $483
Sri Lanka $621

Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Pakistan versus $984 in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan $736
Sri Lanka $984

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Pakistan versus $1,346 in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan $988
Sri Lanka $1,346

Internal cost variation is higher in Sri Lanka: monthly costs span $63 to $804, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Sri Lanka.

Living in Pakistan costs about 22% less than in Sri Lanka on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 65% lower, Sri Lanka 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 582

$2.88 LKR 957

-26.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.97 PKR 3,864

$19.75 LKR 6,568

-29.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PKR 1,522

$7.37 LKR 2,451

-25.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,193

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 545

$2.38 LKR 793

-17.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.60 LKR 199

-36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.6

$0.28 LKR 91.9

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 LKR 724

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 LKR 1,015

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 239

$1.61 LKR 534

-45.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 165

$0.51 LKR 170

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$0.75 LKR 251

61.33%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.69 LKR 563

-28.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.42 PKR 1,500

$11.82 LKR 3,930

-54.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 782

$4.19 LKR 1,394

-32.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,400

$7.08 LKR 2,354

-28.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$5.59 LKR 1,857

-78.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 176

$0.81 LKR 268

-20.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 241

$4.05 LKR 1,348

-78.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$1.28 LKR 427

-57.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.8

$0.88 LKR 294

-62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.78 LKR 261

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.77 LKR 258

-51.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.44 LKR 147

-6.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 575

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 593

$10.01 LKR 3,327

-78.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.00 LKR 3,988

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 LKR 645

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 LKR 889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.0

$0.15 LKR 48.56

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 PKR 2,767

$6.24 LKR 2,075

60.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.43 LKR 145

104.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.38 LKR 125

47.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 PKR 613

$0.92 LKR 304

141.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 PKR 357

$1.23 LKR 410

4.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$44.4K LKR 14.7M

-59.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

$40.1K LKR 13.3M

-39.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$47.47 LKR 15.8K

132.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.41 PKR 1,495

$4.09 LKR 1,360

32.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.79 PKR 4,367

$16.72 LKR 5,558

-5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.50 PKR 5,117

$13.59 LKR 4,520

36.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 PKR 3,066

$6.16 LKR 2,047

80.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 PKR 1,194

$4.29 LKR 1,427

0.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

$34.82 LKR 11.6K

61.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,511 PKR 418.0K

$557 LKR 185.2K

171.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.56 PKR 4,857

$20.77 LKR 6,905

-15.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.58 PKR 6,521

$14.85 LKR 4,938

58.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

$70.5 LKR 23.4K

8.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.08 PKR 9,702

$35.79 LKR 11.9K

-1.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.5K

$322 LKR 106.9K

-53.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

$148 LKR 49.1K

-40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 PKR 88.6K

$1,007 LKR 334.7K

-68.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 PKR 52.5K

$290 LKR 96.4K

-34.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$970 PKR 268.4K

$3,647 LKR 1.2M

-73.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 144.0K

$1,106 LKR 367.7K

-52.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 PKR 53.1K

$215 LKR 71.3K

-10.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.1

13.46

4.75%

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

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sri Lanka: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pakistan

$131 27.2%

Sri Lanka

$68 11% 48.1% $63

Groceries & Markets

Pakistan

$94 19.5%

Sri Lanka

$216 34.7% 130% $122

Accommodation & Living

Pakistan

$87 18.1%

Sri Lanka

$148 23.8% 69% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Pakistan

$69 14.3%

Sri Lanka

$64 10.3% 7.2% $4.9

Eating Out

Pakistan

$59 12.3%

Sri Lanka

$94 15.2% 58.5% $35

Sport & Entertainment

Pakistan

$27 5.6%

Sri Lanka

$22 3.6% 18.3% $5

Getting Around

Pakistan

$14 3%

Sri Lanka

$9.1 1.5% 36.9% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $137 in Pakistan, $196 in Sri Lanka. Capital cities: $261 in Islamabad vs $300 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $202 in Sri Lanka. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 43% higher in Sri Lanka.

Dining out costs 77% more in Sri Lanka.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Pakistan.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🕒 Local time

01:12 1:12 AM

01:42 1:42 AM

30 min ahead of Pakistan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

223,773,700

21,444,000

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rupee (₨)

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 308 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 371 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

USD to PKR in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Pakistan Sri Lanka 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Pakistan
Sri Lanka

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $483 per month in Pakistan and $621 in Sri Lanka, Pakistan comes out about 22% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $196 in Sri Lanka and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.