Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Swat Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Swat

😐 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 36.8% more expensive than Swat without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Islamabad is 27.1% more expensive than Swat without rent, and 36.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PKR 771
$2.79 PKR 779
-1.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.25 PKR 3,975
$14.23 PKR 3,971
0.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.32 PKR 1,485
$5.20 PKR 1,450
2.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 PKR 482
$1.75 PKR 487
-1.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PKR 1,109
$3.84 PKR 1,072
3.65%
Cappuccino
$2.08 PKR 581
$1.98 PKR 553
5.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.40 PKR 110
5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 67.2
$0.22 PKR 61.0
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 269
$0.68 PKR 190
42.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 PKR 185
$0.61 PKR 171
8.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 352
$1.24 PKR 346
1.61%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 355
$1.22 PKR 340
4.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 PKR 1,680
$6.37 PKR 1,776
-5.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 PKR 958
$1.32 PKR 367
159.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 PKR 1,227
$1.38 PKR 386
218.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 PKR 279
$0.84 PKR 235
19.05%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 236
$0.36 PKR 102
136.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 PKR 251
$0.52 PKR 145
73.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$0.40 PKR 113
42.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.39 PKR 108
-2.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 160
$0.55 PKR 154
3.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 PKR 93.0
$0.33 PKR 93.3
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 PKR 104
$0.40 PKR 112
-7.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 534
$1.40 PKR 391
36.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 PKR 255
$0.86 PKR 240
5.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 PKR 566
$2.03 PKR 567
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06 PKR 576
$2.11 PKR 587
-2.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 50.4
$0.17 PKR 47.52
5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 PKR 1,924
$6.86 PKR 1,915
0.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 253
$0.33 PKR 92.9
175.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 PKR 112
$0.44 PKR 123
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 PKR 801
$2.82 PKR 787
1.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PKR 258
$0.92 PKR 257
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K PKR 5.8M
$21.4K PKR 6.0M
-2.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
$26.6K PKR 7.4M
-1.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$114 PKR 31.8K
-2.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.57 PKR 1,555
$5.22 PKR 1,455
6.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 PKR 5,217
$12.45 PKR 3,474
50.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.29 PKR 6,219
$6.11 PKR 1,704
264.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 PKR 1,634
$5.81 PKR 1,621
0.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 PKR 1,200
$4.20 PKR 1,173
2.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PKR 16.9K
$19.42 PKR 5,418
211.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,738 PKR 763.9K
$1,105 PKR 308.3K
147.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.38 PKR 5,964
$21.08 PKR 5,880
1.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.45 PKR 7,935
$28.06 PKR 7,827
1.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 PKR 25.0K
$90.1 PKR 25.1K
-0.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.17 PKR 11.2K
$40.44 PKR 11.3K
-0.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 PKR 55.0K
$76.2 PKR 21.3K
158.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 31.1K
$51.5 PKR 14.4K
116.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 PKR 140.8K
$165 PKR 46.0K
205.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 PKR 81.6K
$106 PKR 29.5K
176.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,535 PKR 428.1K
$920 PKR 256.7K
66.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$752 PKR 209.7K
$657 PKR 183.3K
14.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Swat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 PKR 84.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.2
20.2
-

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

Last update for Islamabad: April 12, 2026

Last update for Swat: April 14, 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