Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Peshawar 2025

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Peshawar

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Peshawar?

A single person in Peshawar spends around 270,000 PKR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 37,000 PKR or as high as 1.8M PKR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Peshawar

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Peshawar

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Peshawar spend around 80% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 75% of their income while some as high as 88%.

How do individuals spend their money in Peshawar?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Peshawar typically spend from 16% to 40% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 28% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 96,000 PKR with expenditure ranging from 13,000 PKR to 640,000 PKR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Peshawar ranges from 5% to 14% of total expenses with 9% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 16,000 PKR with 2,200 PKR and 110,000 PKR being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 3,000 PKR to 140,000 PKR in a month on commuting with 21,000 PKR being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 10%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Peshawar is 42,000 PKR. The cost of groceries can range between 5,900 PKR to 280,000 PKR. Individuals spend on average about 20% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Peshawar allocate 7% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 13%. The range of medical expenses range from 3,300 PKR to 160,000 PKR with 24,000 PKR being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,900 PKR to 88,000 PKR with 13,000 PKR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 5% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 5,300 PKR per month with 740 PKR being the minimum spent amount and 35,000 PKR being the maximum.

What percentage of individuals in Peshawar are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 57% of surveyed individuals in Peshawar said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 43% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 10% to 29% of their monthly income to their savings, with 17% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 77,000 PKR with 8,600 PKR and 510,000 PKR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Peshawar

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Peshawar. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 12% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of individuals blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 22% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 14% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for individuals in Peshawar

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Peshawar

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Peshawar?

Around 44% of surveyed individuals think that living in Peshawar is affordable with proper budgeting while 56% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Peshawar

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options52%

Few low-cost options48%

Based on the survey, 52% of the individuals living in Peshawar have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 48% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked individuals of Peshawar whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes39%

No61%

Based on the survey, 61% of the individuals living in Peshawar said that they don't have an emergency fund while 39% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Pakistan

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy38%

We asked individuals in Peshawar whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 62% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 38% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether single people of Pakistan have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 67% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 33% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance67%

Easily manages finances33%

Financial goals of individuals in Peshawar

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Peshawar, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 46% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 11% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 5% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 15% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Peshawar

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 38% of the individuals in Peshawar have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 62% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Peshawar

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 34% of a single person's monthly income in Peshawar goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Peshawar pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 20% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 9% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Peshawar

7% of debtors in Peshawar confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 31% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 12% of people and personal loans rose at 45%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Peshawar.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Peshawar

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals of Peshawar how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Peshawar

Rent Cost in Peshawar

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

32,000 PKR

48,000 PKR

130,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$170

$450

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

48,000 PKR

76,000 PKR

190,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$270

$680

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

63,000 PKR

95,000 PKR

250,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$340

$910

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

76,000 PKR

130,000 PKR

350,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$450

$1,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

150,000 PKR

380,000 PKR

760,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540

$1,400

$2,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

130,000 PKR

190,000 PKR

540,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450

$680

$1,900

House monthly rent cost

150,000 PKR

380,000 PKR

760,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540

$1,400

$2,700

Villa monthly rent cost

190,000 PKR

480,000 PKR

760,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$680

$1,700

$2,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Peshawar ranges between 32,000 PKR and 130,000 PKR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 48,000 PKR to 190,000 PKR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 63,000 PKR and 250,000 PKR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 76,000 PKR to 350,000 PKR. The average rent of a townhouse in Peshawar is around 190,000 PKR while house rental costs can be as high as 380,000 PKR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 190,000 PKR to 760,000 PKR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Peshawar

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

6.3M PKR

9.5M PKR

19M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23,000

$34,000

$68,000

1-bedroom apartment price

7.6M PKR

13M PKR

48M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27,000

$45,000

$170,000

2-bedroom apartment price

13M PKR

38M PKR

76M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$45,000

$140,000

$270,000

3-bedroom apartment price

42M PKR

63M PKR

190M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$230,000

$680,000

Townhouse price

54M PKR

130M PKR

480M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190,000

$450,000

$1.7M

House price

63M PKR

380M PKR

540M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230,000

$1.4M

$1.9M

Villa price

76M PKR

420M PKR

630M PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270,000

$1.5M

$2.3M

The average price of a studio apartment in Peshawar can range from 6.3M PKR to 19M PKR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 7.6M PKR to 48M PKR. A villa can cost you 420M PKR on average with prices ranging from 76M PKR to 630M PKR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Peshawar can be x78 to x189 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x78 multiples of the average monthly salary in Peshawar.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Peshawar is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Peshawar

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Peshawar

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

2,200 PKR

16,000 PKR

110,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8

$57

$380

Internet and cable cost

1,900 PKR

3,700 PKR

5,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.7

$13

$18

Mobile phone bill and charges

1,500 PKR

2,500 PKR

7,500 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.3

$8.9

$27

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 16,000 PKR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,900 PKR to 5,000 PKR with 3,700 PKR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,500 PKR but can range between 1,500 PKR and 7,500 PKR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Peshawar is around 7.1%. This means that people pay 7.1% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.1% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Peshawar

Prices and cost of goods and services in Peshawar

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

370 PKR

750 PKR

1,200 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$2.7

$4.5

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Peshawar is approximatly 750 PKR with meal cost ranging from 370 PKR to 1,200 PKR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,300 PKR

1,900 PKR

3,800 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.5

$6.7

$13

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,300 PKR and 3,800 PKR with 1,900 PKR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Peshawar.

Fine dining meal for one price

2,500 PKR

3,800 PKR

15,000 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9

$13

$54

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,500 PKR to 15,000 PKR with the average cost being 3,800 PKR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Peshawar.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

310 PKR

500 PKR

750 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.8

$2.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Peshawar is around 500 PKR. Price ranges between 310 PKR and 750 PKR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

250 PKR

300 PKR

370 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.89

$1.1

$1.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Peshawar is 300 PKR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 370 PKR and the minimum being 250 PKR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

190 PKR

250 PKR

370 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.67

$0.89

$1.3

A dozen eggs costs around 250 PKR on average with 190 PKR and 370 PKR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

420 PKR

550 PKR

780 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2

$2.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Peshawar is between 420 PKR and 780 PKR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 550 PKR.

Pack of beef price

500 PKR

750 PKR

1,500 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.7

$5.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 750 PKR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

200 PKR

270 PKR

390 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.72

$0.98

$1.4

A bag of rice in Peshawar costs around 270 PKR on average with prices rangeing between 200 PKR and 390 PKR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

75 PKR

100 PKR

190 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.27

$0.36

$0.67

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 75 PKR to 190 PKR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

130 PKR

170 PKR

290 PKR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.48

$0.62

$1

A bag of apples costs 170 PKR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Peshawar is around 28%. This means that individuals spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals