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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $376 in Swabi, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $606 in Swabi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $837 in Swabi, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 57% more than Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Swabi are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Swabi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.69 PKR 1,024

-3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$22.59 PKR 6,264

0.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$2.83 PKR 786

93.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.64 PKR 1,009

-2.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$1.77 PKR 492

279.10%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$0.57 PKR 157

319.30%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.28 PKR 77.5

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.13 PKR 36.56

69.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.67 PKR 186

47.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.33 PKR 92.3

139.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$0.91 PKR 253

40.66%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.10 PKR 305

16.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.80 PKR 1,609

5.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$2.41 PKR 668

26.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$2.83 PKR 783

80.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$0.55 PKR 154

143.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.34 PKR 95.5

147.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.52 PKR 144

96.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.30 PKR 84.1

63.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.16 PKR 43.65

81.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.36 PKR 98.8

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 74.2

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.30 PKR 84.4

26.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.75 PKR 485

8.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$0.70 PKR 195

97.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.36 PKR 656

-0.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.27 PKR 630

0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.17 PKR 46.93

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$10.77 PKR 2,985

97.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$0.71 PKR 196

78.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.20 PKR 55.9

245.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.59 PKR 441

3.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.98 PKR 272

34.69%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

393.42%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

97.09%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

87.37%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$3.57 PKR 989

63.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.23 PKR 4,501

0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$14.76 PKR 4,091

97.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.97 PKR 1,378

0.80%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$17.75 PKR 4,922

322.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

403.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$3.72 PKR 1,030

533.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$32.47 PKR 9,003

0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$128 PKR 35.4K

117.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

90.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$248 PKR 68.7K

132.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$147 PKR 40.6K

81.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$983 PKR 272.5K

66.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$580 PKR 160.8K

42.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$160 PKR 44.3K

138.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $128 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 139% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $23.00 in Swabi. Groceries tell a different story – $103 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 57%, 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 $884 per month in Islamabad and $564 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 46% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $23.00 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 $589 in Islamabad and $376 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.