Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Swabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Swabi

šŸ˜ Solo nomad: Islamabad is 21.8% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 60.3% more expensive with rent.
šŸ˜ Family of 3: Islamabad is 20.3% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.91 PKRĀ 813
$2.77 PKRĀ 775
5.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.19 PKRĀ 3,969
$14.33 PKRĀ 4,009
-0.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 PKRĀ 1,456
$2.77 PKRĀ 776
87.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 PKRĀ 500
$1.82 PKRĀ 509
-1.65%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKRĀ 1,113
$1.76 PKRĀ 492
126.14%
Cappuccino
$1.99 PKRĀ 556
$0.52 PKRĀ 145
282.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 PKRĀ 120
$0.27 PKRĀ 74.6
59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKRĀ 67.4
$0.13 PKRĀ 36.76
84.62%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 PKRĀ 284
$0.62 PKRĀ 175
62.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 PKRĀ 182
$0.31 PKRĀ 86.7
109.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PKRĀ 358
$0.85 PKRĀ 239
50.59%
Eggs
$1.23 PKRĀ 343
$1.09 PKRĀ 304
12.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.12 PKRĀ 1,712
$6.08 PKRĀ 1,700
0.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 PKRĀ 943
$2.25 PKRĀ 629
49.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.51 PKRĀ 1,261
$2.78 PKRĀ 777
62.23%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 PKRĀ 277
$0.51 PKRĀ 143
94.12%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 PKRĀ 224
$0.34 PKRĀ 93.9
135.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 PKRĀ 263
$0.55 PKRĀ 155
70.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 PKRĀ 170
$0.27 PKRĀ 74.6
125.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 PKRĀ 116
$0.16 PKRĀ 43.97
156.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 PKRĀ 157
$0.55 PKRĀ 154
1.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKRĀ 85.9
$0.34 PKRĀ 94.0
-8.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKRĀ 104
$0.27 PKRĀ 75.5
37.04%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.93 PKRĀ 539
$1.46 PKRĀ 408
32.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 PKRĀ 259
$0.74 PKRĀ 207
24.32%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 PKRĀ 569
$2.02 PKRĀ 564
0.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 PKRĀ 602
$2.06 PKRĀ 577
4.37%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 PKRĀ 46.32
$0.15 PKRĀ 43.08
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.96 PKRĀ 1,946
$6.91 PKRĀ 1,933
0.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 PKRĀ 252
$0.70 PKRĀ 196
28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 PKRĀ 114
$0.19 PKRĀ 52.7
115.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 PKRĀ 768
$1.72 PKRĀ 480
59.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 PKRĀ 253
$0.99 PKRĀ 276
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K PKRĀ 5.9M
$10.6K PKRĀ 3.0M
99.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K PKRĀ 7.4M
$12.3K PKRĀ 3.4M
115.37%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 PKRĀ 31.2K
$52.6 PKRĀ 14.7K
112.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.39 PKRĀ 1,508
$3.47 PKRĀ 972
55.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.43 PKRĀ 5,155
$18.83 PKRĀ 5,267
-2.12%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.69 PKRĀ 6,346
$12.57 PKRĀ 3,517
80.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92 PKRĀ 1,657
$5.83 PKRĀ 1,630
1.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.21 PKRĀ 1,178
$4.36 PKRĀ 1,220
-3.44%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKRĀ 17.0K
$17.70 PKRĀ 4,950
242.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,746 PKRĀ 768.2K
$1,099 PKRĀ 307.5K
149.84%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.22 PKRĀ 5,937
$3.57 PKRĀ 998
494.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.07 PKRĀ 7,852
$28.06 PKRĀ 7,848
0.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 PKRĀ 24.3K
$88.7 PKRĀ 24.8K
-1.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.27 PKRĀ 11.3K
$40.06 PKRĀ 11.2K
0.52%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 PKRĀ 56.1K
$76.3 PKRĀ 21.3K
162.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$110 PKRĀ 30.9K
$51.6 PKRĀ 14.4K
114.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 PKRĀ 143.4K
$166 PKRĀ 46.5K
208.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 PKRĀ 80.9K
$107 PKRĀ 29.9K
170.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,548 PKRĀ 433.0K
$764 PKRĀ 213.8K
102.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$732 PKRĀ 204.8K
$530 PKRĀ 148.2K
38.20%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$303 PKRĀ 84.9K
$162 PKRĀ 45.2K
87.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
15
34.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Islamabad: March 2, 2026

Last update for Swabi: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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