An Expat Talks about Moving to Lahore, Pakistan

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Lahore

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Wish I had brought: comfortable dress shoes/sandals, digital camera, good ear plugs

Should have left home: soccer ball (you can buy them everywhere), bass guitar (I never got around to playing it), books I didn't use (got water damaged on the way through the Pakistan Post)

Read more here -

Expat Packing List for Pakistan

http://www.expatheather.com/Expat_Heather/Expat_Travel/Entries/2010/3/2_Expatriate_Packing_List__Pakistan.html

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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

I've written over 100 articles about expat life and travel in Pakistan. You can access the index on my blog:

http://www.expatheather.com/Expat_Heather/Pakistan.html

It includes moving guides, shopping tips, restaurant reviews, packing lists, cultural observations, travel tips and destination guides. If there's anything else about life in Lahore you would like to know, contact me through my website:

http://www.expatheather.com

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We lived in an upper portion, an independent flat above our landlord's family who lived in the bottom section. This is typical for most expats. It's hard to get a stand alone house and much more expensive.

You can read more about living in Defence here:

Living in Defence Housing Authority in Lahore, Pakistan

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1163761/living_in_defence_housing_authority.html?cat=54

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We lived in Defence as this was close to my husband's place of employment, had a lot of green space, was quiet and has residents who were used to seeing foreigners. We used a real estate company, Deal Makers to find our apartment.

You can read more here:

How to Find Housing in Lahore

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1195348/how_to_find_housing_in_lahore_pakistan.html?cat=54

Best Areas to Live in Lahore

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1797302/best_areas_to_live_in_lahore_pakistan.html?cat=16

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

We had a 3-bedroom portion and paid 24,000 rupees per month, although prices have gone up since 2009. Costs are MUCH lower than in the U.S.