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: $774 in Stip versus $484 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Stip versus $727 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Stip versus $970 in Lahore.

Living in Stip is roughly 60% more expensive than in Lahore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Stip 42% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 MKD 311

$2.09 PKR 580

177.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.99 MKD 858

$14.06 PKR 3,903

13.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MKD 265

$4.35 PKR 1,207

13.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

Cappuccino

$1.98 MKD 106

$2.39 PKR 663

-17.15%

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

$1.76 MKD 94.4

$0.36 PKR 98.7

388.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MKD 66.0

$0.21 PKR 58.3

485.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 MKD 123

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 MKD 142

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MKD 71.1

$0.94 PKR 260

41.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MKD 36.06

$0.57 PKR 158

17.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 MKD 59.9

$1.21 PKR 337

-7.44%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 109

$1.21 PKR 337

67.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 MKD 554

$6.18 PKR 1,717

67.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.34 MKD 394

$3.02 PKR 839

143.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 MKD 402

$4.55 PKR 1,263

64.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 MKD 48.50

$1.06 PKR 293

-15.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 73.9

$0.63 PKR 175

119.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 70.2

$0.61 PKR 169

114.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MKD 87.4

$0.47 PKR 131

246.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.9

$0.36 PKR 98.8

175.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 MKD 73.7

$0.48 PKR 132

185.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 MKD 31.00

$0.47 PKR 131

23.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 MKD 21.99

$0.35 PKR 98.3

17.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 MKD 158

$1.97 PKR 546

49.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 MKD 408

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 MKD 53.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 MKD 95.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 34.33

$0.18 PKR 51.2

255.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.79 MKD 1,062

$6.92 PKR 1,922

185.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MKD 62.1

$0.73 PKR 202

58.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MKD 28.36

$0.49 PKR 137

8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 MKD 301

$1.80 PKR 501

211.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.9

$0.96 PKR 266

55.21%

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

$31.7K MKD 1.7M

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

81.52%

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

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

46.68%

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

$147 MKD 7,908

$141 PKR 39.2K

4.43%

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

$9.36 MKD 502

$5.31 PKR 1,473

76.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.45 MKD 829

$17.33 PKR 4,811

-10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.94 MKD 1,499

$13.73 PKR 3,813

103.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 MKD 255

$4.29 PKR 1,191

10.72%

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

$219 MKD 11.7K

$34.60 PKR 9,608

532.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,186 MKD 63.6K

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

-5.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.87 MKD 1,978

$15.40 PKR 4,276

139.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.76 MKD 1,704

$23.27 PKR 6,462

36.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 MKD 4,046

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,101

$30.56 PKR 8,486

272.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 MKD 11.2K

$120 PKR 33.3K

73.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MKD 7,145

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

75.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 MKD 18.1K

$291 PKR 80.9K

15.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MKD 10.9K

$188 PKR 52.2K

7.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,228 MKD 65.9K

$844 PKR 234.5K

45.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 MKD 53.0K

$590 PKR 163.7K

67.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$463 MKD 24.8K

$185 PKR 51.5K

149.85%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Stip and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 150% 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 $186 vs $94.0 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 60% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $484 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 150% higher in Stip, 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: $209 in Stip versus $120 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 97% 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 60% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.