🇵🇰 Pakistan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Lahore? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Two-bed apartment, Gulberg or DHA LahorePKR 70,000–150,000 / month
Two-bed apartment, Johar Town, Model Town or Faisal TownPKR 35,000–70,000 / month
Utilities including gas, electricity and internetPKR 15,000–40,000 / month, peaking with summer air conditioning
Groceries, one personPKR 25,000–45,000 / month
Orange Line metro, flat fare per journeyPKR 40
Good to know
Population
≈13–14 million in the metropolitan area — Pakistan's second city and the capital of Punjab
Languages
Punjabi is the language of the street and the home; Urdu is the official and educated register; English dominates business, law and higher education
Currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Time zone
PKT (GMT+5) — no daylight saving
Power plug
Type C and D, 230 V, supplied through the national grid distribution company rather than a private utility
Climate
Humid subtropical with real seasons — 40°C+ May and June, a July–August monsoon, a genuinely cold December and January, and severe smog through the winter
Driving side
Left
Public transport
The Orange Line metro — Pakistan's only metro rail — plus the Metrobus and Speedo bus network, all run by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Lahore checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Lahore
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.