Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Peshawar and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $379 in Peshawar versus $492 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $564 in Peshawar versus $746 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $749 in Peshawar versus $1,001 in Lahore.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 23% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 72% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 PKR 621

$2.09 PKR 582

6.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.77 PKR 2,995

$14.24 PKR 3,961

-24.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 PKR 996

$4.27 PKR 1,189

-16.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 PKR 401

$2.78 PKR 774

-48.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PKR 758

$3.62 PKR 1,007

-24.59%

Cappuccino

$1.77 PKR 492

$2.34 PKR 651

-24.36%

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

$0.28 PKR 76.8

$0.36 PKR 99.3

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 PKR 47.72

$0.23 PKR 64.0

-26.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$0.89 PKR 247

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.57 PKR 157

7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.17 PKR 324

-4.27%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 346

$1.20 PKR 335

3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 PKR 935

$6.11 PKR 1,700

-45.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 PKR 855

$3.05 PKR 849

0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 PKR 1,017

$4.44 PKR 1,234

-17.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 290

$1.02 PKR 283

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.60 PKR 166

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.60 PKR 168

61.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 126

$0.48 PKR 133

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.32 PKR 90.2

21.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.48 PKR 133

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.44 PKR 123

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 88.1

$0.38 PKR 106

-15.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 PKR 208

$0.93 PKR 258

-19.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 PKR 435

$0.55 PKR 152

183.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PKR 969

$1.11 PKR 309

213.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 PKR 502

$1.99 PKR 555

-9.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.28

$0.19 PKR 52.7

-15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,918

$6.98 PKR 1,941

-1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 190

$0.70 PKR 194

-2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 PKR 209

$0.49 PKR 138

53.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$1.78 PKR 496

2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PKR 278

$0.91 PKR 253

9.89%

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

$11.9K PKR 3.3M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

-31.43%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

-4.18%

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

$96.3 PKR 26.8K

$138 PKR 38.3K

-30.04%

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

$4.24 PKR 1,179

$5.59 PKR 1,554

-24.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.89 PKR 3,028

$17.01 PKR 4,733

-35.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.91 PKR 2,757

$13.75 PKR 3,824

-27.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 PKR 1,913

$5.73 PKR 1,595

20.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,191

$4.34 PKR 1,206

-1.38%

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

$30.41 PKR 8,459

$35.47 PKR 9,868

-14.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$519 PKR 144.5K

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

-58.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.14 PKR 3,656

$14.98 PKR 4,168

-12.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 PKR 5,346

$22.69 PKR 6,311

-15.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.29 PKR 10.7K

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

-47.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.48 PKR 9,035

$29.85 PKR 8,304

8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.2K

$118 PKR 32.9K

1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 PKR 14.4K

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

-32.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PKR 57.4K

$286 PKR 79.6K

-27.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$188 PKR 52.2K

-49.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 PKR 48.0K

$184 PKR 51.3K

-6.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

19.88

6.49%

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

Last update for Peshawar: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Peshawar and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 7% 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: $11.00 in Peshawar vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 vs $93.0 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 Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar and Lahore differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($379 vs $492 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Lahore earns 7% less. 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: $119 in Peshawar versus $118 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Peshawar – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

Expats usually find Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.