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: $425 in Peshawar versus $477 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $610 in Peshawar versus $735 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $796 in Peshawar versus $993 in Arak.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 11% less than in Arak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 69% lower, Arak 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.36 PKR 654

$3.58 $3.58

-34.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.55 PKR 2,368

$13.09 $13.09

-34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 PKR 1,326

$4.09 $4.09

17.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PKR 606

$0.81 $0.81

170.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 PKR 810

$0.57 $0.57

412.28%

Cappuccino

$1.27 PKR 352

$1.30 $1.30

-2.31%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.0

$0.48 $0.48

-31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.46

$1.68 $1.68

-90.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.55 $0.55

70.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.52 $0.52

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 290

$1.94 $1.94

-45.88%

Eggs

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.27 $1.27

-15.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 PKR 963

$2.23 $2.23

56.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 PKR 880

$2.61 $2.61

21.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 PKR 1,046

$9.76 $9.76

-61.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$0.78 $0.78

57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.98 $0.98

-42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.68 $0.68

-16.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.49 $0.49

-2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.1

$0.41 $0.41

-36.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.41 $0.41

-19.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.7

$0.52 $0.52

-42.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.0

$0.29 $0.29

-13.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 558

$0.58 $0.58

246.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.52 $0.52

32.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 203

$2.16 $2.16

-66.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 PKR 503

$2.45 $2.45

-25.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 PKR 63.7

$0.11 $0.11

109.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.47 PKR 3,454

$7.71 $7.71

61.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 PKR 292

$0.23 $0.23

356.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.11 $0.11

581.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PKR 393

$0.99 $0.99

43.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 307

$0.08 $0.08

1287.50%

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

$22.6K PKR 6.3M

$49.3K $49.3K

-54.15%

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

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

$35.6K $35.6K

-32.23%

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

$105 PKR 29.0K

$10.08 $10.08

938.00%

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

$5.81 PKR 1,610

$1.48 $1.48

292.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.12 PKR 3,913

$3.74 $3.74

277.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.25 PKR 4,224

$10.05 $10.05

51.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.93 PKR 1,644

$24.78 $24.78

-76.07%

Cinema Ticket

$1.96 PKR 543

$1.07 $1.07

83.18%

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

$46.88 PKR 13.0K

$85.5 $85.5

-45.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,915 PKR 1.4M

$2,383 $2,383

106.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.07 PKR 1,960

$13.59 $13.59

-47.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.23 PKR 4,495

$8.70 $8.70

86.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.5 PKR 14.0K

$80.6 $80.6

-37.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.74 PKR 11.3K

$51.1 $51.1

-20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 PKR 34.8K

$285 $285

-55.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

$200 $200

-61.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 PKR 54.4K

$674 $674

-70.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.0K

$338 $338

-64.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,326 $1,326

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 $534

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$147 PKR 40.8K

$372 $372

-60.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

-40.54%

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

Last update for Peshawar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Arak: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Peshawar and $285 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 153% 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 Peshawar vs $13.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $95.0 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, Eating Out. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 153% 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: $126 in Peshawar versus $285 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $425 per month in Peshawar versus $477 in Arak – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 62% 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 12% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.