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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 37.2% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 58.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 16.4% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 55.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 806
$2.91 PKR 821
-2.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.4 PKR 4,068
$14.25 PKR 4,026
1.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,491
$2.78 PKR 784
89.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 496
$1.75 PKR 493
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 PKR 1,083
$1.74 PKR 492
120.11%
Cappuccino
$2.01 PKR 567
$0.55 PKR 154
265.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 111
$0.29 PKR 82.7
34.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 68.1
$0.15 PKR 41.08
60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 PKR 282
$0.66 PKR 186
51.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 188
$0.34 PKR 94.9
97.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 344
$0.89 PKR 251
37.08%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 358
$1.04 PKR 294
22.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 PKR 1,736
$6.07 PKR 1,713
1.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 1,004
$2.27 PKR 642
56.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 PKR 1,216
$2.78 PKR 784
55.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 292
$0.54 PKR 153
90.74%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.36 PKR 103
136.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 PKR 255
$0.5 PKR 142
80.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 167
$0.29 PKR 82.2
103.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.17 PKR 47.64
147.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$0.55 PKR 154
-5.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$0.31 PKR 86.2
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 PKR 114
$0.27 PKR 75.3
48.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 503
$1.39 PKR 392
28.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PKR 247
$0.68 PKR 193
27.94%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 PKR 554
$2.03 PKR 574
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 613
$2.06 PKR 582
5.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53
$0.16 PKR 43.81
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.95 PKR 1,964
$6.86 PKR 1,938
1.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 239
$0.69 PKR 195
23.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 123
$0.18 PKR 50.1
144.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 PKR 820
$1.72 PKR 486
68.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 277
$0.98 PKR 278
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$10.8K PKR 3.1M
99.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K PKR 7.3M
$12.6K PKR 3.5M
106.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.3K
$53.4 PKR 15.1K
107.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,512
$3.48 PKR 982
53.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38 PKR 5,191
$18.44 PKR 5,207
-0.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.44 PKR 6,339
$12.53 PKR 3,539
79.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 PKR 1,700
$5.91 PKR 1,668
1.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.3 PKR 1,214
$4.28 PKR 1,210
0.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$17.93 PKR 5,063
230.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
$1,126 PKR 317.9K
141.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 PKR 5,980
$3.52 PKR 995
501.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 PKR 7,947
$27.96 PKR 7,897
0.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
$87 PKR 24.6K
0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
$39.94 PKR 11.3K
-0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 PKR 57K
$75.4 PKR 21.3K
167.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.5K
$51 PKR 14.4K
119.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PKR 141.1K
$169 PKR 47.9K
194.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 PKR 84.3K
$105 PKR 29.6K
184.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
$608 PKR 171.6K
116.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 PKR 220.5K
$394 PKR 111.2K
98.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 PKR 81.6K
$157 PKR 44.4K
83.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
15
34.67%

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

Last update for Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Swabi: October 28, 2025

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