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: $417 in Peshawar versus $500 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $600 in Peshawar versus $765 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Peshawar versus $1,030 in Lahore.

Living in Peshawar costs roughly 17% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Peshawar 70% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.59 PKR 719

-5.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.76 PKR 2,431

$14.55 PKR 4,037

-39.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 PKR 1,324

$5.66 PKR 1,570

-15.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PKR 614

$3.56 PKR 989

-37.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 PKR 796

$5.54 PKR 1,537

-48.19%

Cappuccino

$1.25 PKR 346

$2.51 PKR 697

-50.20%

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

$0.31 PKR 84.9

$0.43 PKR 119

-27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 PKR 45.46

$0.26 PKR 72.7

-38.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 273

$0.85 PKR 237

15.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.72 PKR 199

2.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.17 PKR 325

-7.69%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 309

$1.25 PKR 346

-10.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 PKR 957

$6.41 PKR 1,779

-46.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 PKR 861

$2.45 PKR 679

26.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 PKR 1,010

$4.72 PKR 1,311

-22.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.17 PKR 323

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.66 PKR 183

-22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.85 PKR 235

-25.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.60 PKR 167

-23.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.0

$0.30 PKR 83.9

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.33 PKR 90.9

-6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.5

$0.45 PKR 124

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 68.5

$0.36 PKR 101

-30.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 PKR 540

$1.09 PKR 303

77.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.65 PKR 180

7.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PKR 204

$1.71 PKR 475

-57.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 PKR 512

$2.15 PKR 596

-13.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.18 PKR 49.76

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 PKR 3,516

$5.27 PKR 1,462

140.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 PKR 304

$0.88 PKR 243

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 195

$0.69 PKR 192

1.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 PKR 404

$1.77 PKR 490

-17.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.26 PKR 350

-11.90%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

27.00%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

-6.01%

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

$101 PKR 28.2K

$124 PKR 34.3K

-17.91%

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

$5.77 PKR 1,600

$5.17 PKR 1,433

11.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.47 PKR 4,016

$16.25 PKR 4,509

-10.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,314

$19.21 PKR 5,329

-19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 PKR 1,677

$10.62 PKR 2,946

-43.03%

Cinema Ticket

$1.92 PKR 534

$4.30 PKR 1,192

-55.35%

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

$46.40 PKR 12.9K

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

4.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,981 PKR 1.4M

$1,982 PKR 549.9K

151.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.10 PKR 1,969

$16.83 PKR 4,668

-57.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.36 PKR 4,540

$25.65 PKR 7,115

-36.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PKR 14.2K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

-31.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.09 PKR 10.8K

$29.41 PKR 8,158

32.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.1K

$151 PKR 42.0K

-16.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

-1.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$317 PKR 87.9K

-37.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PKR 33.1K

$191 PKR 53.1K

-37.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 233.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$183 PKR 50.9K

-17.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

-22.64%

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

Last update for Peshawar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Peshawar and $151 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 21% 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 $15.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $82.0 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 Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peshawar and Lahore differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($417 vs $500 including rent). Peshawar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Lahore. 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: $127 in Peshawar versus $151 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $9.00 versus $15.00 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 20% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.