For one person, living is cheaper in Kollam: $284 a month against $525 in Peshawar, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Peshawar and in Kollam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $525 per month in Peshawar vs $284 in Kollam, rent included.
Peshawar $525
Kollam $284
A couple spends around $716 per month in Peshawar vs $446 in Kollam, rent included.
Peshawar $716
Kollam $446
A family of three spends $906 per month in Peshawar vs $609 in Kollam, rent included.
Peshawar $906
Kollam $609
😐
Peshawar costs about 85% more than Kollam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both Peshawar and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Peshawar61% lower, Kollam79% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.50PKR 690
$1.03₹97.5
142.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.15PKR 2,528
$6.14₹583
49.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35PKR 1,478
$3.23₹307
65.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21PKR 612
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92PKR 806
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.63PKR 727
$1.37₹130
91.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 95.0
$0.34₹31.98
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18PKR 49.24
$0.12₹11.54
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.33₹126
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.86₹177
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01PKR 278
$0.60₹57.4
68.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73PKR 203
$0.48₹45.65
52.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06PKR 293
$0.51₹47.98
107.84%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 308
$0.78₹74.1
42.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.44PKR 952
$3.59₹341
-4.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18PKR 880
$2.13₹202
49.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.67PKR 1,016
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.19PKR 328
$1.57₹149
-24.20%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52PKR 143
$0.59₹56.2
-11.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63PKR 173
$0.70₹66.1
-10.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 154
$0.41₹38.63
36.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.27PKR 74.5
$0.35₹32.95
-22.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.2
$0.35₹33.53
-2.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28PKR 76.9
$0.61₹57.8
-54.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25PKR 68.4
$0.27₹25.68
-7.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.01PKR 555
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74PKR 205
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73PKR 203
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.84PKR 510
$5.17₹491
-64.41%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$2.70₹256
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.05₹195
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.72₹258
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.35₹318
-
🚌 Getting Around
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.2
$0.17₹15.88
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64PKR 3,494
$7.20₹684
75.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10PKR 305
$0.81₹76.8
35.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70PKR 194
$0.33₹31.55
112.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.45PKR 401
$2.05₹195
-29.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18PKR 327
$1.11₹106
6.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KPKR 6.2M
$9,035₹857.7K
146.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KPKR 6.5M
$16.6K₹1.6M
41.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102PKR 28.2K
$32.12₹3,050
217.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.10PKR 1,685
$2.97₹282
105.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.19PKR 3,923
$5.04₹479
181.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.22PKR 4,207
$13.44₹1,276
13.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.14PKR 1,697
$10.44₹991
-41.19%
Cinema Ticket
$1.95PKR 540
$1.54₹146
26.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$47.01PKR 13.0K
$21.19₹2,012
121.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,087PKR 1.4M
$2,630₹249.7K
93.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.38PKR 2,040
$16.30₹1,548
-54.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.03PKR 4,432
$23.34₹2,215
-31.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.2PKR 14.1K
$25.49₹2,420
100.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.31PKR 11.1K
$24.42₹2,318
65.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$229PKR 63.2K
$82.2₹7,800
178.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161PKR 44.6K
$47.79₹4,537
237.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263PKR 72.8K
$182₹17.3K
44.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197PKR 54.4K
$115₹10.9K
71.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$834₹79.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$449₹42.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peshawar
Kollam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$147PKR 40.7K
$525₹49.9K
-72.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
9.13
20.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Peshawar: October 25, 2026
Last update for Kollam: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peshawar
$161 30.7%
Kollam
$48 16.8% ↓ 70.4%$114
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peshawar
$122 23.3%
Kollam
$40 14.1% ↓ 67.2%$82
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peshawar
$83 15.9%
Kollam
$82 28.9% ↓ 1.3%$1.1
🍽Eating Out
Peshawar
$70 13.3%
Kollam
$47 16.4% ↓ 33.1%$23
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peshawar
$52 9.8%
Kollam
$40 14.2% ↓ 22%$11
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peshawar
$19 3.6%
Kollam
$17 5.8% ↓ 13.6%$2.6
🚌Getting Around
Peshawar
$18 3.4%
Kollam
$10 3.6% ↓ 42.7%$7.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peshawar
$197 21.7%
Kollam
$115 18.9% ↓ 41.6%$82
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peshawar
$128 14.2%
Kollam
$43 7.1% ↓ 66.4%$85
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peshawar
$202 22.3%
Kollam
$177 29.2% ↓ 12.2%$25
🍽Eating Out
Peshawar
$184 20.3%
Kollam
$119 19.6% ↓ 35.1%$65
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peshawar
$115 12.7%
Kollam
$90 14.7% ↓ 22%$25
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peshawar
$44 4.9%
Kollam
$43 7.1% ↓ 2.1%$0.9
🚌Getting Around
Peshawar
$36 4%
Kollam
$21 3.5% ↓ 42.3%$15
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Peshawar versus $82 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 in Kollam are about 3.6 times higher, 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 $9 in Peshawar versus $6 in Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $83 vs $82 – making Kollam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 85% more than Kollam, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $788 per month in Peshawar and $426 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $82 there versus $229 in Peshawar.
How much does it cost to live in Peshawar compared to Kollam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $525 in Peshawar and $284 in Kollam. That makes Kollam about 46% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Peshawar and in Kollam?
Kindergarten costs $47 per month in Peshawar and $21 in Kollam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Peshawar or in Kollam?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $525 in Peshawar and $284 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.