😐A single person spends $381 per month in Peshawar vs $310 in Kollam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $568 per month in Peshawar vs $495 in Kollam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $756 per month in Peshawar vs $680 in Kollam, rent included.
😐Peshawar costs about 23% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Peshawar and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar72% lower, Kollam77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28PKR 634
$1.17₹111
94.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.49PKR 2,924
$6.83₹648
53.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.52PKR 981
$4.11₹390
-14.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.44PKR 401
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67PKR 744
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.78PKR 496
$1.31₹124
35.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28PKR 77.6
$0.37₹35.21
-24.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19PKR 54.2
$0.14₹13.74
35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.70₹161
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83₹269
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80PKR 224
$0.62₹58.9
29.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61PKR 170
$0.43₹40.99
41.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11PKR 310
$0.51₹48.58
117.65%
Eggs
$1.26PKR 350
$0.85₹80.7
48.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.56PKR 993
$5.27₹501
-32.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10PKR 864
$2.28₹216
35.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.79PKR 1,056
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$2.16₹205
-51.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.66PKR 183
$0.58₹54.8
13.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95PKR 266
$0.78₹74.0
21.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45PKR 126
$0.48₹45.99
-6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37PKR 103
$0.48₹45.86
-22.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45PKR 125
$0.36₹34.63
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.42₹40.06
-47.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 96.2
$0.32₹30.41
6.25%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.23PKR 344
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60PKR 446
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48PKR 971
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.82PKR 506
$3.55₹337
-48.73%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$3.16₹300
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.22₹211
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.85₹271
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.62₹439
-
🚌 Getting Around
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 51.7
$0.11₹10.91
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.20PKR 2,008
$7.97₹756
-9.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73PKR 203
$1.18₹112
-38.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74PKR 206
$0.30₹28.01
146.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.76PKR 490
$1.67₹159
5.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PKR 277
$1.22₹116
-18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8KPKR 3.3M
$11.5K₹1.1M
2.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KPKR 6.2M
$16.2K₹1.5M
36.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.7PKR 27.8K
$27.69₹2,629
259.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.38PKR 1,221
$3.24₹307
35.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.76PKR 2,999
$5.93₹563
81.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.22PKR 2,850
$11.83₹1,123
-13.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.59PKR 1,838
$14.14₹1,342
-53.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.22PKR 1,178
$1.71₹162
146.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$29.83PKR 8,316
$23.35₹2,217
27.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$514PKR 143.4K
$1,545₹146.7K
-66.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.08PKR 3,645
$18.05₹1,713
-27.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.55PKR 5,450
$19.55₹1,856
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.52PKR 11.0K
$28.02₹2,661
41.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.64PKR 9,098
$27.00₹2,563
20.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$119PKR 33.1K
$92.2₹8,749
28.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.2PKR 14.6K
$53.2₹5,048
-1.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$205PKR 57.2K
$205₹19.5K
0.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.7PKR 26.4K
$127₹12.0K
-25.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$866₹82.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$452₹42.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170PKR 47.4K
$541₹51.3K
-68.52%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Kollam: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Peshawar versus $92.2 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 218% 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 – $83.0 in Peshawar vs $94.0 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 23% 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 vs Kollam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $571 per month in Peshawar and $464 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 Kollam?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 vs 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 Kollam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $381 in Peshawar and $310 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 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.