Cost of Living Comparison Between Stip and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Stip and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Stip versus $492 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,138 in Stip versus $746 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,497 in Stip versus $1,001 in Lahore.

Living in Stip is roughly 58% more expensive than Lahore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Stip 42% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 MKD 302

$2.09 PKR 582

174.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.11 MKD 849

$14.24 PKR 3,961

13.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.92 MKD 259

$4.27 PKR 1,189

15.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$1.89 MKD 99.4

$2.34 PKR 651

-19.23%

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

$1.74 MKD 92.0

$0.36 PKR 99.3

383.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 MKD 64.0

$0.23 PKR 64.0

426.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 117

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 MKD 147

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 67.9

$0.89 PKR 247

44.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MKD 35.66

$0.57 PKR 157

19.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 MKD 58.2

$1.17 PKR 324

-5.98%

Eggs

$2.10 MKD 111

$1.20 PKR 335

75.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.32 MKD 544

$6.11 PKR 1,700

68.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.23 MKD 381

$3.05 PKR 849

137.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.43 MKD 392

$4.44 PKR 1,234

67.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 MKD 51.2

$1.02 PKR 283

-4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.6

$0.60 PKR 166

138.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 69.0

$0.60 PKR 168

118.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 MKD 83.1

$0.48 PKR 133

229.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 48.85

$0.32 PKR 90.2

190.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.1

$0.48 PKR 133

189.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 MKD 28.17

$0.44 PKR 123

20.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 MKD 21.30

$0.38 PKR 106

5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 MKD 161

$1.99 PKR 555

53.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 MKD 395

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 MKD 53.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 MKD 95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MKD 33.06

$0.19 PKR 52.7

231.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.52 MKD 1,082

$6.98 PKR 1,941

193.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MKD 58.1

$0.70 PKR 194

57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 25.84

$0.49 PKR 138

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 MKD 296

$1.78 PKR 496

215.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 MKD 76.2

$0.91 PKR 253

59.34%

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

$31.4K MKD 1.7M

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

80.70%

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

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

44.65%

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

$144 MKD 7,568

$138 PKR 38.3K

4.30%

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

$9.23 MKD 486

$5.59 PKR 1,554

65.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.31 MKD 807

$17.01 PKR 4,733

-9.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.83 MKD 1,467

$13.75 PKR 3,824

102.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

Cinema Ticket

$4.74 MKD 250

$4.34 PKR 1,206

9.22%

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

$216 MKD 11.4K

$35.47 PKR 9,869

510.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,182 MKD 62.3K

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

-4.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.03 MKD 2,004

$14.98 PKR 4,168

153.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.80 MKD 1,676

$22.69 PKR 6,311

40.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 MKD 3,933

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,013

$29.85 PKR 8,304

282.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 MKD 10.9K

$118 PKR 32.9K

75.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MKD 7,008

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

73.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 MKD 18.1K

$286 PKR 79.6K

20.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 MKD 10.8K

$188 PKR 52.2K

9.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,257 MKD 66.3K

$843 PKR 234.4K

49.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,026 MKD 54.1K

$615 PKR 171.2K

66.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 MKD 24.6K

$184 PKR 51.3K

152.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

19.88

-64.29%

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

Last update for Stip: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Stip and $118 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 153% 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: $16.00 in Stip vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $93.0 per month, with Lahore 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

Stip vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stip and Lahore differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $492 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Stip pays 153% more on average, 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: $207 in Stip versus $118 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Stip. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lahore – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $16.00 in Stip. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Lahore 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.

Safety-wise, Stip and Lahore are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lahore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.