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

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 25.3% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 58.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 36.1% more expensive than Swabi without rent, and 55.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$2.84 PKR 794
-2.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,975
$14.33 PKR 3,997
-0.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$2.80 PKR 780
90.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$1.80 PKR 503
-3.89%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$1.76 PKR 490
126.14%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$0.55 PKR 153
278.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.29 PKR 82.0
44.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.15 PKR 40.99
60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.61 PKR 170
59.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.33 PKR 92.9
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$0.91 PKR 255
38.46%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.08 PKR 302
17.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$6.12 PKR 1,707
-1.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$2.32 PKR 647
47.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$2.74 PKR 764
60.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$0.55 PKR 153
81.82%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.33 PKR 93.2
157.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.55 PKR 154
63.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.29 PKR 81.6
96.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.16 PKR 45.01
137.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.51 PKR 142
11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.31 PKR 85.4
6.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.27 PKR 75.3
37.04%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$1.39 PKR 387
37.41%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.74 PKR 206
22.97%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$1.95 PKR 545
4.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 576
$2.06 PKR 575
-
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.20 PKR 55.8
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,924
$6.97 PKR 1,944
-1.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.70 PKR 195
30.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.16 PKR 43.62
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 801
$1.81 PKR 505
58.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.98 PKR 272
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$10.8K PKR 3.0M
94.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$12.3K PKR 3.4M
112.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$53.3 PKR 14.9K
109.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$3.55 PKR 991
56.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,217
$18.33 PKR 5,113
2.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,219
$12.29 PKR 3,429
81.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$5.95 PKR 1,660
-1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$4.26 PKR 1,188
0.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$17.75 PKR 4,950
241.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 763.9K
$1,112 PKR 310.2K
146.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,964
$3.55 PKR 992
502.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,935
$27.64 PKR 7,710
2.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
$89.9 PKR 25.1K
-0.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$40.51 PKR 11.3K
-0.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$75.4 PKR 21.0K
161.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$52.4 PKR 14.6K
112.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.8K
$168 PKR 46.9K
200.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$106 PKR 29.6K
175.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.1K
$782 PKR 218.3K
96.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$641 PKR 178.7K
17.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Swabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
$160 PKR 44.6K
89.96%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Swabi: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities