Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Lahore Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Lahore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $365 in Zaqatala versus $484 in Lahore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $599 in Zaqatala versus $727 in Lahore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $833 in Zaqatala versus $970 in Lahore.

Living in Zaqatala costs roughly 25% less than in Lahore, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zaqatala 73% lower, Lahore 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 ₼9.05

$2.09 PKR 579

155.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.68 ₼35.15

$14.06 PKR 3,898

47.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₼11.84

$4.35 PKR 1,206

60.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 764

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,016

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₼4.03

$2.39 PKR 662

-0.84%

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

$0.56 ₼0.96

$0.36 PKR 98.6

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₼0.94

$0.21 PKR 58.2

161.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₼3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₼4.89

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ₼1.66

$0.94 PKR 260

4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₼0.67

$0.57 PKR 158

-31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₼3.72

$1.21 PKR 336

80.99%

Eggs

$1.37 ₼2.33

$1.21 PKR 337

13.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.49 ₼5.93

$6.18 PKR 1,715

-43.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.40 ₼4.07

$3.02 PKR 838

-20.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 ₼13.58

$4.55 PKR 1,261

75.60%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.24

$1.06 PKR 293

-31.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ₼1.96

$0.63 PKR 175

82.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 ₼1.04

$0.61 PKR 169

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 ₼1.27

$0.47 PKR 130

57.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 ₼0.52

$0.36 PKR 98.7

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₼0.68

$0.48 PKR 132

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₼1.54

$0.47 PKR 131

93.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₼0.95

$0.35 PKR 98.2

60.00%

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)

$1.80 ₼3.06

$1.97 PKR 545

-8.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 ₼15.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₼1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₼3.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₼0.34

$0.18 PKR 51.2

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,920

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 201

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 500

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 ₼1.03

$0.96 PKR 266

-36.46%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.8M

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

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

$5.31 PKR 1,471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,805

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.16 ₼56.4

$13.73 PKR 3,809

141.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,647

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,190

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

$34.60 PKR 9,596

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,270

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,454

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,476

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 ₼202

$120 PKR 33.3K

-0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.9 ₼137

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

6.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₼407

$291 PKR 80.8K

-17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 ₼248

$188 PKR 52.2K

-22.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

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

Last update for Zaqatala: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lahore: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Zaqatala and $120 in Lahore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Zaqatala vs $14.00 in Lahore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 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

Zaqatala vs Lahore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zaqatala and Lahore differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($365 vs $484 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $547 in Zaqatala and $726 in Lahore to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $119 in Zaqatala versus $120 in Lahore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $365 per month in Zaqatala versus $484 in Lahore – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zaqatala 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, Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.