Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Arak Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Arak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $381 in Peshawar versus $430 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $568 in Peshawar versus $669 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $756 in Peshawar versus $907 in Arak.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 11% less than in Arak, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 72% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 PKR 634

$2.97 $2.97

-23.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.49 PKR 2,924

$13.74 $13.74

-23.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.52 PKR 981

$2.56 $2.56

37.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$0.59 $0.59

144.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 PKR 744

$0.88 $0.88

203.41%

Cappuccino

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.27 $1.27

40.16%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.6

$0.36 $0.36

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 PKR 54.2

$1.04 $1.04

-81.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 PKR 224

$0.63 $0.63

26.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.58 $0.58

5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 PKR 310

$1.94 $1.94

-42.78%

Eggs

$1.26 PKR 350

$1.02 $1.02

23.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 PKR 993

$1.89 $1.89

88.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 864

$1.93 $1.93

60.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.79 PKR 1,056

$8.59 $8.59

-55.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$0.88 $0.88

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$1.11 $1.11

-40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 PKR 266

$0.58 $0.58

63.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.41 $0.41

9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.39 $0.39

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 125

$0.37 $0.37

21.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.34 $0.34

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 96.2

$0.23 $0.23

47.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

$1.03 $1.03

19.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 PKR 446

$0.59 $0.59

171.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 971

$1.48 $1.48

135.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 506

$1.80 $1.80

1.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 51.7

$0.43 $0.43

-55.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.20 PKR 2,008

$9.97 $9.97

-27.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 203

$0.37 $0.37

97.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.09 $0.09

722.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PKR 490

$1.21 $1.21

45.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 277

$0.35 $0.35

182.86%

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

$11.8K PKR 3.3M

$43.0K $43.0K

-72.57%

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

$22.1K PKR 6.2M

$39.9K $39.9K

-44.61%

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

$99.7 PKR 27.8K

$10.17 $10.17

879.84%

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

$4.38 PKR 1,221

$2.06 $2.06

112.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.76 PKR 2,999

$5.69 $5.69

89.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 PKR 2,850

$13.09 $13.09

-21.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 PKR 1,838

$16.11 $16.11

-59.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.22 PKR 1,178

$0.98 $0.98

330.61%

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

$29.83 PKR 8,316

$62.1 $62.1

-52.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$514 PKR 143.4K

$1,967 $1,967

-73.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.08 PKR 3,645

$12.86 $12.86

1.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.55 PKR 5,450

$8.21 $8.21

138.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.52 PKR 11.0K

$44.82 $44.82

-11.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.64 PKR 9,098

$45.50 $45.50

-28.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$315 $315

-62.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.2 PKR 14.6K

$192 $192

-72.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 PKR 57.2K

$479 $479

-57.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.7 PKR 26.4K

$305 $305

-68.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,370 $1,370

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 $532

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 PKR 47.4K

$323 $323

-47.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

18.33

15.49%

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

Last update for Peshawar: April 28, 2026

Last update for Arak: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Peshawar and $315 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 90% 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: $10.00 in Peshawar vs $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $86.0 per month, with Peshawar 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

Peshawar vs Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Arak earns 90% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Peshawar versus $315 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $381 per month in Peshawar versus $430 in Arak – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 38% less than in Arak. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Peshawar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Peshawar and Arak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.