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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $343 in Swabi, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $532 in Swabi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $721 in Swabi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 54% more than Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Swabi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Swabi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.91 PKR 809

-3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$2.78 PKR 774

95.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$1.79 PKR 498

123.46%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$0.55 PKR 154

263.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.29 PKR 81.6

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.13 PKR 36.91

69.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.63 PKR 175

49.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.31 PKR 85.3

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$0.84 PKR 234

44.05%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.04 PKR 289

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.34 PKR 1,763

-4.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$2.31 PKR 643

46.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$2.74 PKR 763

59.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.56 PKR 155

83.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.34 PKR 93.3

129.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.51 PKR 142

82.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.27 PKR 74.7

122.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.17 PKR 47.00

141.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.51 PKR 142

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.31 PKR 85.3

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.27 PKR 74.6

37.04%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.36 PKR 380

41.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.73 PKR 202

23.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$2.05 PKR 569

-2.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.17 PKR 605

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.17 PKR 46.57

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$6.88 PKR 1,914

0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.68 PKR 189

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.16 PKR 43.74

175.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$1.73 PKR 481

62.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 PKR 266

-5.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$10.8K PKR 3.0M

99.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$12.5K PKR 3.5M

108.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

112.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$3.57 PKR 994

52.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$18.94 PKR 5,269

-0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$12.49 PKR 3,474

77.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$6.08 PKR 1,691

-0.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.25 PKR 1,183

-0.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$17.75 PKR 4,939

239.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,093 PKR 303.9K

156.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$3.48 PKR 969

519.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$28.04 PKR 7,801

-1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

-0.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$39.54 PKR 11.0K

0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

166.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

116.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$165 PKR 45.8K

211.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

182.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

38.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$520 PKR 144.5K

26.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$162 PKR 45.2K

138.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

34.67%

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Swabi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $74.2 in Swabi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 138% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Swabi. Groceries tell a different story – $98.0 in Islamabad vs $70.0 in Swabi – so Swabi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Islamabad vs Swabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $515 in Swabi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Swabi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $14.00 in Swabi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $529 in Islamabad and $343 in Swabi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Swabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Swabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.