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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $426 in Swat, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $632 in Swat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $838 in Swat, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 24% more than Swat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Swat are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Swat 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$2.89 PKR 804

-3.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$14.04 PKR 3,904

1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.46 PKR 1,518

-0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

$1.76 PKR 489

-2.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

$3.82 PKR 1,062

4.71%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$1.97 PKR 549

1.52%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.24 PKR 67.1

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.72 PKR 201

30.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$0.63 PKR 175

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.28 PKR 355

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.23 PKR 342

-2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$6.07 PKR 1,688

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$1.37 PKR 382

147.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$1.43 PKR 399

206.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.89 PKR 249

15.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$0.36 PKR 101

116.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$0.51 PKR 142

82.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.44 PKR 121

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.39 PKR 108

5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.52 PKR 144

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$0.34 PKR 93.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$0.38 PKR 106

-2.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.38 PKR 385

39.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

$1.97 PKR 547

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$2.06 PKR 574

3.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.17 PKR 45.94

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$7.16 PKR 1,991

-3.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$0.34 PKR 93.6

152.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.41 PKR 114

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$2.78 PKR 773

1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.91 PKR 254

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

1.04%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

0.77%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

-0.17%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$5.35 PKR 1,488

1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$12.50 PKR 3,477

50.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$6.23 PKR 1,734

256.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$5.95 PKR 1,654

1.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$4.18 PKR 1,162

0.72%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$19.62 PKR 5,457

207.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$1,088 PKR 302.7K

157.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$21.26 PKR 5,915

1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$27.76 PKR 7,723

-0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$89.6 PKR 24.9K

-1.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$40.59 PKR 11.3K

-1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

164.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

117.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$164 PKR 45.7K

212.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$105 PKR 29.2K

181.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$939 PKR 261.2K

65.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$538 PKR 149.5K

22.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

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

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Swat: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $74.9 in Swat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $14.00 in Swat. Groceries tell a different story – $98.0 in Islamabad vs $72.0 in Swat – so Swat 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 Swat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 24%, 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 $638 in Swat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 37% 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 Swat. 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 $426 in Swat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Swat – 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 Swat. 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.