😐A single person spends $383 per month in Peshawar vs $302 in Kollam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $557 per month in Peshawar vs $479 in Kollam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $732 per month in Peshawar vs $655 in Kollam, rent included.
😐Peshawar costs about 27% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Peshawar and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar71% lower, Kollam77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25PKR 626
$1.14₹109
97.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.45PKR 2,901
$6.93₹663
50.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.53PKR 978
$4.04₹386
-12.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37PKR 380
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67PKR 742
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.83PKR 508
$1.26₹120
45.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28PKR 76.6
$0.38₹35.97
-26.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16PKR 43.68
$0.14₹13.33
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72₹165
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.94₹281
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75PKR 209
$0.59₹56.4
27.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 167
$0.47₹44.79
27.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11PKR 308
$0.48₹45.50
131.25%
Eggs
$1.20PKR 332
$0.81₹77.3
48.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.48PKR 965
$5.22₹499
-33.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06PKR 848
$2.16₹207
41.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.74PKR 1,037
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 286
$2.13₹203
-51.64%
Banana(1kg)
$0.61PKR 168
$0.58₹55.2
5.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96PKR 267
$0.79₹75.4
21.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.45₹43.46
-4.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$0.48₹46.18
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$0.36₹34.63
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24PKR 67.0
$0.42₹40.56
-42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 87.3
$0.30₹28.50
3.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.73PKR 204
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60PKR 445
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61PKR 1,002
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.84PKR 511
$3.51₹335
-47.58%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$2.62₹251
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.19₹209
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.80₹267
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.64₹443
-
🚌 Getting Around
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.0
$0.13₹12.63
53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.10PKR 1,972
$7.92₹757
-10.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 204
$1.15₹110
-36.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74PKR 205
$0.30₹28.57
146.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79PKR 496
$1.67₹160
7.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91PKR 254
$1.22₹117
-25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.7KPKR 3.2M
$11.6K₹1.1M
0.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KPKR 6.3M
$16.1K₹1.5M
40.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.4PKR 27.0K
$27.39₹2,619
255.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22PKR 1,170
$3.26₹311
29.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.59PKR 2,938
$5.96₹570
77.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.98PKR 2,771
$11.88₹1,136
-15.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.86PKR 1,904
$14.28₹1,366
-51.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35PKR 1,209
$1.76₹168
147.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$29.66PKR 8,231
$23.18₹2,217
27.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$522PKR 144.9K
$1,521₹145.5K
-65.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.05PKR 3,622
$18.35₹1,755
-28.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.68PKR 5,462
$19.58₹1,873
0.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.13PKR 10.9K
$27.97₹2,675
39.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.89PKR 8,851
$27.01₹2,583
18.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116PKR 32.3K
$92.7₹8,864
25.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.5PKR 14.3K
$52.2₹4,995
-1.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202PKR 56.0K
$201₹19.2K
0.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.2PKR 26.1K
$128₹12.2K
-26.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$850₹81.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$457₹43.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$128PKR 35.5K
$528₹50.5K
-75.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.17
8.97
136.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Peshawar: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kollam: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Peshawar versus $92.7 in Kollam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 313% higher in Kollam, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Peshawar versus $7.00 in Kollam. Groceries tell a different story – $81.0 in Peshawar vs $91.0 in Kollam – so Peshawar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kollam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Peshawar or Kollam?
Peshawar costs about 27% more than Kollam, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Peshawar and in Kollam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $574 per month in Peshawar and $453 in Kollam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Peshawar or Kollam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Peshawar or in Kollam?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Peshawar – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Peshawar and in Kollam?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Peshawar and $7.00 in Kollam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Peshawar or in Kollam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $383 in Peshawar and $302 in Kollam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kollam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Peshawar compared to Kollam?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Peshawar or to Kollam?
If budget matters most, go with Kollam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Peshawar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.