Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $420 in Quetta versus $518 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in Quetta versus $782 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $814 in Quetta versus $1,046 in Lahore.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 19% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta 69% lower, Lahore 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 PKR 1,026

$2.54 PKR 705

45.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,987

$14.58 PKR 4,039

-26.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,255

$5.60 PKR 1,552

-19.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.63 PKR 1,006

-50.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$5.51 PKR 1,527

-4.36%

Cappuccino

$1.59 PKR 442

$2.53 PKR 702

-37.15%

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

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.40 PKR 110

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.24 PKR 65.9

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.93 PKR 258

-25.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.71 PKR 197

-21.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.17 PKR 325

5.13%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.17 PKR 325

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,366

$6.34 PKR 1,756

-22.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 785

$2.61 PKR 722

8.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,419

$4.81 PKR 1,333

6.44%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.22 PKR 339

-23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.64 PKR 178

-10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$0.91 PKR 253

-24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.66 PKR 182

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.0

$0.30 PKR 83.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.32 PKR 89.7

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.46 PKR 129

-6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.37 PKR 102

5.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.09 PKR 303

60.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$0.60 PKR 166

80.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 788

$1.73 PKR 478

64.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 PKR 579

$2.11 PKR 584

-0.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 PKR 36.35

$0.20 PKR 55.1

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,845

$5.43 PKR 1,503

89.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.89 PKR 246

16.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.69 PKR 190

-37.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 493

$1.85 PKR 512

-3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.32 PKR 365

-18.94%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

33.63%

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

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$26.7K PKR 7.4M

-9.35%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$128 PKR 35.5K

-19.71%

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

$8.11 PKR 2,246

$5.32 PKR 1,474

52.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,547

$16.62 PKR 4,603

-1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$21.06 PKR 5,833

-72.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.76 PKR 2,982

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 923

$4.23 PKR 1,172

-21.28%

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

$34.78 PKR 9,635

$45.14 PKR 12.5K

-22.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$995 PKR 275.5K

$1,988 PKR 550.8K

-49.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.08 PKR 2,237

$17.31 PKR 4,794

-53.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.81 PKR 6,318

$27.44 PKR 7,601

-16.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

$76.5 PKR 21.2K

-7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.10 PKR 9,446

$31.91 PKR 8,840

6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$162 PKR 45.0K

-56.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

$83.4 PKR 23.1K

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$341 PKR 94.4K

-51.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

$203 PKR 56.1K

-50.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.3K

$810 PKR 224.3K

-53.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$219 PKR 60.6K

$597 PKR 165.5K

-63.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 PKR 75.9K

$191 PKR 53.0K

43.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

14.28

-9.80%

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

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Lahore: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.4 in Quetta and $162 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quetta pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Quetta vs $15.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $97.0 per month, with Quetta 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

Quetta vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quetta and Lahore differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($420 vs $518 including rent). Quetta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Quetta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $71.4 in Quetta versus $162 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Quetta – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $15.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Quetta 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 Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.