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: $383 in Peshawar versus $427 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $557 in Peshawar versus $670 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $732 in Peshawar versus $914 in Arak.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 10% less than in Arak, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 71% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 PKR 626

$3.02 $3.02

-25.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.45 PKR 2,901

$13.75 $13.75

-24.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 PKR 978

$2.48 $2.48

42.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 PKR 380

$0.62 $0.62

120.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 PKR 742

$0.87 $0.87

206.90%

Cappuccino

$1.83 PKR 508

$1.26 $1.26

45.24%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.6

$0.36 $0.36

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 43.68

$1.03 $1.03

-84.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.63 $0.63

19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.55 $0.55

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.93 $1.93

-42.49%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 332

$1.01 $1.01

18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 PKR 965

$1.87 $1.87

86.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$1.84 $1.84

66.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,037

$8.37 $8.37

-55.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.84 $0.84

22.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 168

$1.12 $1.12

-45.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.63 $0.63

52.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.41 $0.41

4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.39 $0.39

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.36 $0.36

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.34 $0.34

-29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 PKR 87.3

$0.25 $0.25

24.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.62 $0.62

17.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 PKR 445

$0.59 $0.59

171.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 PKR 1,002

$1.42 $1.42

154.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 PKR 511

$1.77 $1.77

3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.0

$0.43 $0.43

-53.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.10 PKR 1,972

$9.97 $9.97

-28.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 204

$0.38 $0.38

92.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.11 $0.11

572.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 496

$1.21 $1.21

47.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.35 $0.35

160.00%

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

$11.7K PKR 3.2M

$44.0K $44.0K

-73.44%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$39.9K $39.9K

-43.37%

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

$97.4 PKR 27.0K

$10.12 $10.12

862.06%

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

$4.22 PKR 1,170

$2.06 $2.06

104.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.59 PKR 2,938

$5.70 $5.70

85.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.98 PKR 2,771

$12.84 $12.84

-22.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.86 PKR 1,904

$16.31 $16.31

-57.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$0.98 $0.98

343.88%

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

$29.66 PKR 8,231

$60.9 $60.9

-51.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$522 PKR 144.9K

$1,966 $1,966

-73.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.05 PKR 3,622

$12.78 $12.78

2.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 PKR 5,462

$8.22 $8.22

139.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.13 PKR 10.9K

$45.13 $45.13

-13.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.89 PKR 8,851

$45.71 $45.71

-30.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 PKR 32.3K

$307 $307

-62.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

$192 $192

-73.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PKR 56.0K

$488 $488

-58.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.2 PKR 26.1K

$310 $310

-69.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,361 $1,361

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 $531

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$128 PKR 35.5K

$379 $379

-66.20%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Arak: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Peshawar and $307 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 196% 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 $81.0 vs $85.0 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 196% lower in Arak. 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: $116 in Peshawar versus $307 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $383 per month in Peshawar versus $427 in Arak – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 40% 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 11% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.