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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Islamabad vs $431 in Swat, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $666 in Swat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $901 in Swat, rent included.

Islamabad costs about 37% more than Swat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Swat are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Swat 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 989

$3.63 PKR 1,006

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,305

$23.46 PKR 6,505

-3.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,516

$3.68 PKR 1,020

48.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 985

$3.58 PKR 993

-0.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,861

$7.01 PKR 1,943

-4.28%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$2.40 PKR 665

-0.42%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$0.32 PKR 89.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.24 PKR 66.6

-8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$0.93 PKR 256

6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.42 PKR 116

88.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.21 PKR 334

5.79%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.28 PKR 355

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,694

$5.83 PKR 1,618

4.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 848

$1.36 PKR 377

125.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,420

$1.48 PKR 411

245.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$1.05 PKR 291

27.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$0.82 PKR 228

2.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$0.51 PKR 142

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$0.49 PKR 137

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.29 PKR 80.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$0.35 PKR 97.8

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$0.27 PKR 74.4

7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.41 PKR 115

-7.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

$1.81 PKR 502

4.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

$1.36 PKR 378

1.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 651

$2.47 PKR 685

-4.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$2.38 PKR 661

-4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.29

$0.18 PKR 49.31

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,885

$8.86 PKR 2,457

139.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$1.28 PKR 356

-0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.69 PKR 192

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 458

$1.66 PKR 460

-0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.03 PKR 286

28.16%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

149.99%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

1.14%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$103 PKR 28.5K

-0.72%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,617

$5.81 PKR 1,610

0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,531

$16.47 PKR 4,566

-0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,066

$11.02 PKR 3,056

163.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,389

$4.75 PKR 1,317

5.47%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$42.58 PKR 11.8K

76.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$1,009 PKR 279.9K

403.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,528

$24.37 PKR 6,757

-3.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,060

$33.05 PKR 9,163

-1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$25.07 PKR 6,952

233.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$39.04 PKR 10.8K

0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$127 PKR 35.3K

117.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

86.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.0K

$255 PKR 70.7K

126.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.8K

$155 PKR 42.9K

72.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

$802 PKR 222.3K

103.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.0K

$443 PKR 122.9K

87.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

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 Swat: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $127 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $23.00 in Swat. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Islamabad vs $74.0 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 37%, 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 $647 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 38% 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 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 $589 in Islamabad and $431 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.