Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $484 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $727 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $970 in Lahore.

Living in Rawalpindi costs roughly 10% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.09 PKR 580

-12.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$14.06 PKR 3,903

-0.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$4.35 PKR 1,207

24.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$2.75 PKR 765

-43.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$3.66 PKR 1,018

-3.55%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$2.39 PKR 663

-28.45%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.36 PKR 98.7

-13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.21 PKR 58.3

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.94 PKR 260

-8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.57 PKR 158

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$1.21 PKR 337

7.44%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.21 PKR 337

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$6.18 PKR 1,717

-2.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$3.02 PKR 839

13.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.55 PKR 1,263

-3.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$1.06 PKR 293

-4.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.63 PKR 175

9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.61 PKR 169

39.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.47 PKR 131

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.36 PKR 98.8

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.48 PKR 132

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.47 PKR 131

-48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.35 PKR 98.3

11.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.11 PKR 308

1345.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.51 PKR 143

94.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$1.10 PKR 306

118.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$1.97 PKR 546

-3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.18 PKR 51.2

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$6.92 PKR 1,922

37.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.73 PKR 202

17.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.49 PKR 137

-34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.80 PKR 501

62.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.96 PKR 266

1.04%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

0.91%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

-2.83%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$141 PKR 39.2K

-26.55%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$5.31 PKR 1,473

-23.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$17.33 PKR 4,811

-4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$13.73 PKR 3,813

-27.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$5.94 PKR 1,649

25.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.29 PKR 1,191

-19.11%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$34.60 PKR 9,608

16.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

-24.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$15.40 PKR 4,276

-22.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$23.27 PKR 6,462

-20.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

24.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$30.56 PKR 8,486

-5.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$120 PKR 33.3K

10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

-14.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$291 PKR 80.9K

13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$188 PKR 52.2K

-9.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$844 PKR 234.5K

39.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$590 PKR 163.7K

-12.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$185 PKR 51.5K

-5.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

19.88

1.46%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 6% 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: $14.00 in Rawalpindi vs $14.00 in Lahore. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 vs $94.0, with Lahore cheaper for home cooking.

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

Rawalpindi vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Lahore differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $484 including rent). Rawalpindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $120 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lahore pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rawalpindi 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 Rawalpindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.