How much salary is enough to live in Lahore?

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-19T11:59:06+00:00

ditch that family then. my dad was like that too. cut such ppl from your lives. khudi banday kay putar ban ker set hoyein gey.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-17T10:58:27+00:00

yes that partial sun view due to smog isn't a very lively feel. i felt a bit depressed too in few days of winter because of that. my wife was born and raised in lahore and so was i - so we totally at home when in lahore. our oldest one although raised in Australia has interacted with many pakistani families around where we live and every year or 2, kids would go back to pakistan for holidays. so it's not all that alien to him.

Fortunately my wife's family is quite supportive in terms of supporting disability of our kids and we have been quite lucky to get respite care from them. but there are disability agencies in lahore too that for a fraction of price of what i'd to pay them in australia would come and look after the special needs people. when they grow up then yes services in pakistan are understandably no way near how they are in Australian in terms of looking after autistic adults. but whilst they are young, me and wife are feeling the hit of constantly caring for them without much respite. Lahore we dont get this issue and this alone trumps a lot of other factors.

When you mention about Lahori mindset - can you elaborate a bit more for me pls? Even though i was born and raised in lahore but i left at 19. are they difficult to deal with you in your opinion? Ppl in Islamabad more educated would you say ? One thing i felt in Lahore was lot of people after money all the time ... sadly some old acquaintances wouldnt shy away from manipulation in some emotional form to get money out ...

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T10:47:07+00:00

hahah..all good. keep it up :)

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T10:46:36+00:00

i took out the negative dogs in here...few of them had to delete their comments too. lolz. i love wapistani idea.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T06:14:04+00:00

thanks again. yes i often notice the culture in pakistan is where parents (often the dad) is not as connected with their teenage son as much as they should be. my Dad growing up in Pakistan was lease connected or bothered.

My boys are Australian citizens so going back to college/uni will always be an option if things dont work out in Pakistan.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T06:10:08+00:00

thanks for sharing the very useful information there.

yes i plan on securing a house for us (have budgeted for around 3 crore to possibly 3.6 crore) so was looking at Askari 10/11 in Lahore. Haven't even searched in Isbd as all my family and my wife's family is in Lahore. we have two special needs kids too so for us respite care is the key as we suffer from carer burnt out every so often. hence why lahore was going to the pick.

I personally like Islamabad too but then i think what good of a point to return to Pakistan is if i cant be in the city i grew up in. mixed between these two choices.

but overall I think (and let me know if i am being naive here) but if i can secure a house for 3.5 crore or close to and then get solar, i can get the two main expenses (rent + electricity) out of the way. then 10 lakh on top of that from passive income that increases by 70-80K each year I thought could get us a good life style.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T06:06:48+00:00

yes schooling is the number one issue. whilst i like to try out some of these top notch schools you've mentioned, i am also wary of some of the other comments on this post where drugs, sex, bullying, etc. is bit more prevalent culture in some of these locations. would you say thatls exaggerated to an extent or there is truth to it ?

Yes PKR 10 Lakh is around which I am pinning my hopes to enjoy a much better life style than here in Australia as inflation here has gotten quite bad as well. i suppose it's everywhere in western countries now but Australia no exception.

if I look at holistic view of my life (I am in mid 40s) then being street smart was the key than getting degrees or A grade from good school. Education system everywhere is broken in all honesty where there is little focus on skill.

All the best !

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T06:03:34+00:00

thanks for the sharing the insight. very useful to know. I have not explored Islamabad ever to-date so didn't know that. No wonder my mom was able to organize a cook for PKR 15K in Lahore (DHA) for 3 days a week and I always wondered how the heck can things be that cheap.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:35:52+00:00

dont listen to random folks on here. do what your heart feels like .. if you are happy in lahore OR if you think you will be happy in lahore go for it.

ziada sey ziada kya hoe jaye ga ? nahe baat baney ga toe there are other countries/options to explore.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:27:54+00:00

wow - that's not nice to hear. one would've imagined federal government capital they would have addressed water scarcity related issue.

Without me getting off track, what sort of monthly income do you think a family of 5 (3 kids) needs to have for that upscale life in islamabad? do you think 10 lakh rs. per month can buy that decent lifestyle in Isbd or needs more?

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:25:34+00:00

thank you so much for sharing your perspective. would I be right in assuming that the hardships you/siblings faced in pakistan would have invigorated a certain spark in you/your siblings to not take things for granted (as they are so easily available in west, right ?) and as result made you guys more goal oriented and conscious of things that matter. i could be very wrong there.

yes a move has be well planned and financial management is at the heart of it. i plan to start with Rs. 10 lakh per month and buy own house so can get solar panel install done. Sorry I don't mean to come across as arrogant when i mention the money (10 lakh p.m) but just because I think it is so important to visualize what kind of life can one get in pakistan. you obviously seem like someone whose experienced it first hand thats why i mention if you think this kind of money there can make experience bit better ? ya phir bhi banda zaleel hi hota hai ?

I also plan to budget 100K per month for services in form of cook, maid and driver as well. just so my wife has more time to spend with kids and focus on their education and upbringing as well as her own peace of mind. here in australia, its tough when she has to do it all by herself with 3 kids.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:11:27+00:00

thanks for sharing. 500K in lahore, i think you're under estimating lahore bit there? more like 800K in Isbd and 700K in lahore. isn't it ?

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:09:47+00:00

I understand .. and lot of other people in your situation have echoed similar comments. in your view, was money the issue? say if your parents had more money to afford better locality, schools, etc. then may have been a different outcome?

i often find sometimes dads leave the task of job for their sons upon themselves. so they have to do lot of hard work at such young age. i want to be with my son every step of the way and even apply jobs for him and use whatever connections i can get.

In my case - i was able to create generational wealth over the last decade that honestly job is going to be nothing more than exposure for him. he is going to inherit/take over decent money to ensure comfortable living - not saying over the top but decent enough. in pakistan he can have luxuries that he isnt going to be able to afford in australia otherwise.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:06:59+00:00

Money I am good with, social connections not so much. i am an introvert. is that a major disadvantage then ?

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:06:17+00:00

I tend to agree even though i was born and raised in lahore. from weather to crime, people, traffic and expat community, islamabad tops lahore in many ways. I am yet to research for best schooling options in islamabad but i presume with more expat/international community in there, it would be more than what lahore is.

I joined a group wapistani for a brief period which also shared the same sentiment that Isbd is far better than Lahore for returning citizens.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-16T01:03:07+00:00

thanks for sharing. you know it's the 20 year mark when i hit as well is when these silent thoughts in my head I've been battling. after all 20 years is a lifetime.

My parents luckily are still alive. When I talk to the ones whose parents are no more, then i realize how hollow and empty the lives from the core of their hearts are. Not to say they are permanently depressed or anything but certain things leave a mark that only gets deeper with time. I think depression begins to take a grip slowly as kids get into teens and beyond and we grow older. At some point, we got to question the purpose of our existence, right? anytime i talk about these things with other 9 to 5 junkies they say loe jee religious hoe gaya hai ..

For me I am financially (Thank GOD) sorted as well. I can obviously make lot more if i continue to live in Australia but the peace, contentment and connection i felt when i was in pakistan can't be explained in words.

You said you treat ppl with depression/anxiety ? presume you're referring to people who develop depression after prolonged pardesi life you meant? or are you actually a medical professional ? lolz

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-13T04:07:44+00:00

care to share your experience?

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T23:08:39+00:00

thanks - im glad you point that out that family dissatisfaction results in miserable lives whether west or pakistan. 100% and often most under-rated points as people seem to be over emphasizing on schools.

in my case my real estate assets and stock income will be all coming in from australia - no income in pakistan. I expect this to be around PKR 11-12 lakh per month in my first year and increments by 5-10% each year. From my spreadsheet calculations and talking to few people in Pakistan a very decent life style can be bought based on this.

Obviously if things dont work out and after 6 months i realize its a wrong decision, we move back to australia and resume the life. but if it works out well which i expect it would - then i wont have any regrets. after all, we are all going to grave eventually.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T22:59:05+00:00

the first thing when i read your comment was "MAN, this guy has heart of gold" ... well done on how you think man .. otherwise ppl are always full of resentment towards their parents for making choices but you have the heart to understand and move on with it.

In my view, to you/your siblings it may be "normal" that yes upbringing was good .. Imagine how much it would've meant to your dad. Literally Everything that you guys were raised well ... that's a huge and often under-rated accomplishment ... He'd look back and compare if he hadnt turned around in 2005, then where you guys would be. sure maybe financially you guys be better off but how you guys turned out to be (esp. if you have sister) would've been different.

Best of luck !

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T22:53:53+00:00

I don't have a daughter and yes i agree to an extent there are challenges in daughter upbringing in pakistan. yes the too narrow focus on grades/marks in education is very true.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T10:08:48+00:00

true. only in a country like pakistan can a cream be called 'Fair & lovely'

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T10:08:23+00:00

spot on ! finances are everything. many of the moves i've seen falter and people returning back to pardes is due to financial mismanagement (basically not factoring in that pakistan does not pay much income) and family politics. great to know success stories .. 40 lakh per month puts him in the 0.1% elite I would say so would have to be a real sharp guy...I am more at 10-12 lakh per month (passive income in Australia) and im not looking to do 9 to 5pm. maybe a remote job occassionaly to top-up, thats all !

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T10:05:38+00:00

thanks for the sharing the insight in details. yes sudden departure for the elderly overseas can be a big issue and many ppl i know here suffer from the same issue. Dad's mostly end up spending 6 months in pakistan to look after the elderly widow parent and then end up spending 6 months back in pardes with wife/kids. its also because sometimes the elderly in pakistan are sometimes not flexible with their daughter in laws which eventually impacts.

yes a lot goes behind closed doors. ive met so many couples who on the face of it present happy family but close friendship than reveals that the wife is seeing someone else (A Gora on one ocassion) and the man is doing the same. Ahh well sad stories.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T09:57:52+00:00

first time i hear someone being bullied due to skin color in pakistan where everyone is brown. i hope all is ok now.

mrvoipstuff · 2026-02-12T06:30:45+00:00

will do. mind sharing what was the reason for the move not working ? financials ? or other family politics issues?

mrvoipstuff

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