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: $853 in Stip versus $511 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,260 in Stip versus $783 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Stip versus $1,055 in Lahore.

Living in Stip is roughly 67% more expensive than in Lahore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Stip 38% lower, Lahore 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.53 MKD 398

$2.56 PKR 708

194.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.64 MKD 1,249

$14.52 PKR 4,022

62.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 MKD 358

$5.64 PKR 1,563

20.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 PKR 1,001

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 PKR 1,524

Cappuccino

$1.86 MKD 98.2

$2.66 PKR 738

-30.08%

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

$1.55 MKD 82.0

$0.42 PKR 117

269.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MKD 61.4

$0.24 PKR 65.9

383.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 MKD 97.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MKD 154

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 MKD 67.2

$0.91 PKR 252

39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MKD 43.07

$0.68 PKR 188

20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MKD 61.5

$1.22 PKR 338

-4.92%

Eggs

$2.59 MKD 137

$1.22 PKR 338

112.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.69 MKD 459

$6.37 PKR 1,764

36.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 MKD 397

$2.51 PKR 696

199.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 MKD 406

$4.80 PKR 1,331

60.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 49.25

$1.16 PKR 322

-19.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MKD 75.3

$0.65 PKR 181

120.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.5

$0.90 PKR 250

54.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 MKD 90.8

$0.62 PKR 172

177.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 48.93

$0.30 PKR 83.5

210.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 46.77

$0.35 PKR 97.8

154.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MKD 31.21

$0.46 PKR 128

28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 MKD 22.08

$0.36 PKR 100

16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 295

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 PKR 178

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PKR 478

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 MKD 172

$2.13 PKR 590

53.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 MKD 402

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 57.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 81.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.21

$0.17 PKR 46.22

282.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.86 MKD 1,208

$5.48 PKR 1,518

317.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MKD 60.3

$0.92 PKR 256

23.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 MKD 35.94

$0.74 PKR 205

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 MKD 306

$1.83 PKR 508

216.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MKD 80.5

$1.28 PKR 354

18.75%

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

$36.7K MKD 1.9M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

106.57%

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

$28.1K MKD 1.5M

$26.9K PKR 7.4M

4.44%

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

$165 MKD 8,691

$129 PKR 35.6K

27.97%

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

$9.36 MKD 495

$5.08 PKR 1,408

84.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.13 MKD 905

$16.23 PKR 4,496

5.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.13 MKD 1,486

$21.31 PKR 5,905

32.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.03 PKR 3,056

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 MKD 351

$4.39 PKR 1,217

51.25%

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

$381 MKD 20.1K

$45.79 PKR 12.7K

732.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,594 MKD 295.6K

$1,968 PKR 545.1K

184.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.16 MKD 2,016

$17.31 PKR 4,795

120.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.71 MKD 1,675

$26.36 PKR 7,302

20.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MKD 5,689

$74.1 PKR 20.5K

45.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 MKD 6,022

$31.11 PKR 8,619

266.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 MKD 11.0K

$159 PKR 44.1K

30.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$131 MKD 6,901

$82.8 PKR 22.9K

57.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 MKD 18.0K

$334 PKR 92.7K

1.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 MKD 10.8K

$197 PKR 54.7K

3.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,246 MKD 65.9K

$781 PKR 216.3K

59.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,000 MKD 52.8K

$597 PKR 165.3K

67.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$472 MKD 24.9K

$190 PKR 52.7K

148.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

14.28

-70.24%

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

Last update for Stip: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lahore: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Stip and $159 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stip pays 148% 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: $24.00 in Stip vs $15.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $96.0 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 67% in total monthly costs ($853 vs $511 including rent). Lahore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 148% 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 $159 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% 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 $15.00 versus $24.00 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 67% less than in Stip. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.