Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Swabi

For one person, living is cheaper in Swabi: $521 a month against $1,779 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $15,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Athens, Greece
Swabi, Pakistan
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,779
/mo nomad
Swabi
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$521
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Swabi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Swabi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,779 in Athens versus $521 in Swabi.

  • Athens $1,779
  • Swabi $521

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $823 in Swabi.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Swabi $823

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Athens versus $1,126 in Swabi.

  • Athens $3,663
  • Swabi $1,126

Living in Athens is roughly 241% more expensive than in Swabi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 32% above, Swabi is 61% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 €14.99
$3.69 PKR 1,022
356.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 €58.8
$23.29 PKR 6,442
183.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 €9.99
$5.38 PKR 1,488
108.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.65 PKR 1,010
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.05 PKR 1,950
-
Cappuccino
$4.08 €3.64
$2.59 PKR 716
57.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.47
$0.34 PKR 94.7
714.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.48
$0.21 PKR 57.8
157.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 €5.08
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26 €5.58
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.64
$0.99 PKR 275
85.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.27
$0.76 PKR 211
88.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.38
$1.30 PKR 359
105.38%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.41
$1.21 PKR 335
309.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.09 €13.45
$6.12 PKR 1,692
146.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.99 €9.79
$3.13 PKR 865
251.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.77 €17.61
$5.45 PKR 1,508
262.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 €1.89
$1.28 PKR 354
65.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$0.88 PKR 242
125.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.04 PKR 286
27.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$0.56 PKR 154
285.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 €0.94
$0.29 PKR 80.8
265.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$0.38 PKR 105
202.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.97
$0.28 PKR 77.1
285.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.75
$0.42 PKR 117
102.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.78 PKR 494
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.21 PKR 334
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.44 PKR 674
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 €4.86
$2.37 PKR 655
130.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 €8.93
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.82
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.12
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Swabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.20
$0.20 PKR 55.8
575.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.52 €27.19
$9.87 PKR 2,730
209.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 €3.39
$1.23 PKR 340
209.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.92
$0.71 PKR 196
45.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.49 €14.68
$1.66 PKR 460
893.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 €2.09
$1.37 PKR 380
70.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K €24.7K
$21.3K PKR 5.9M
30.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €23.7K
$23.0K PKR 6.4M
15.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €180
$103 PKR 28.6K
95.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 €23.88
$5.86 PKR 1,621
357.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 €27.16
$16.97 PKR 4,693
79.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €48.17
$14.65 PKR 4,053
269.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.40 €24.41
$7.87 PKR 2,178
248.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.44 €9.30
$4.92 PKR 1,362
112.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 €506
$43.15 PKR 11.9K
1215.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.5K
$1,053 PKR 291.2K
1342.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 €80.8
$26.20 PKR 7,246
245.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 €35.03
$34.47 PKR 9,533
14.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.7
$94.7 PKR 26.2K
11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$40.03 PKR 11.1K
222.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Swabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 €661
$135 PKR 37.2K
451.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 €578
$83.6 PKR 23.1K
675.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,132
$266 PKR 73.6K
377.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 €999
$182 PKR 50.3K
516.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,999 €3,562
$807 PKR 223.2K
395.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,281 €2,923
$499 PKR 138.1K
557.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Swabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 €1,109
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
13.08
-66.06%

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

Last update for Athens: October 31, 2026

Last update for Swabi: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$648
Swabi
$84 87.1% $565
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$316
Swabi
$104 67% $212
Eating Out
Athens
$272
Swabi
$79 70.9% $193
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$260
Swabi
$126 51.3% $133
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$164
Swabi
$88 46.3% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Swabi
$25 67.3% $50
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Swabi
$15 65.6% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Athens and $135 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $66 in Athens vs $23 in Swabi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $104 per month, with Swabi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇵🇰 Swabi
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
03:11 3:11 AM
3 h ahead of Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
123,412
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Swabi 4,350 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Swabi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Athens vs Swabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Swabi?
Swabi wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Swabi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens and in Swabi?
You’d need roughly $2,669 in Athens and $782 in Swabi 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Swabi?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Athens versus $135 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Swabi?
Dining out is cheaper in Swabi – a meal for two runs $23 versus $66 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Swabi?
All in, you’ll spend $1,779 per month in Athens versus $521 in Swabi – Swabi is about 71% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Athens or in Swabi?
At $521 in Swabi versus $1,779 in Athens, a $800 budget is realistic in Swabi but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Swabi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Athens or Swabi?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Swabi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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