Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Swabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Karachi and Swabi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Karachi versus $343 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Karachi versus $532 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $978 in Karachi versus $721 in Swabi.

Living in Karachi is roughly 39% more expensive than Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 64% lower, Swabi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 PKR 595

$2.91 PKR 809

-26.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.44 PKR 3,461

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-13.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 PKR 1,129

$2.78 PKR 774

46.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PKR 553

$1.72 PKR 478

15.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 PKR 1,451

$1.79 PKR 498

191.62%

Cappuccino

$1.89 PKR 525

$0.55 PKR 154

243.64%

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

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.29 PKR 81.6

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.13 PKR 36.91

76.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 PKR 231

$0.63 PKR 175

31.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.31 PKR 85.3

87.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 315

$0.84 PKR 234

34.52%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.04 PKR 289

16.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PKR 1,749

$6.34 PKR 1,763

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 PKR 887

$2.31 PKR 643

38.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 PKR 1,365

$2.74 PKR 763

79.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$0.56 PKR 155

83.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PKR 162

$0.34 PKR 93.3

70.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$0.51 PKR 142

82.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.27 PKR 74.7

107.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.17 PKR 47.00

129.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.51 PKR 142

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.31 PKR 85.3

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.27 PKR 74.6

59.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.36 PKR 380

-5.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PKR 351

$0.73 PKR 202

72.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.05 PKR 569

1.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 580

$2.17 PKR 605

-4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PKR 94.4

$0.17 PKR 46.57

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.33 PKR 1,762

$6.88 PKR 1,914

-7.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.68 PKR 189

8.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 171

$0.16 PKR 43.74

281.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 PKR 497

$1.73 PKR 481

3.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PKR 256

$0.96 PKR 266

-4.17%

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

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

$10.8K PKR 3.0M

52.11%

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

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

$12.5K PKR 3.5M

95.08%

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

$132 PKR 36.8K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

152.00%

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

$4.90 PKR 1,362

$3.57 PKR 994

37.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,791

$18.94 PKR 5,269

-28.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 PKR 4,325

$12.49 PKR 3,474

24.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 PKR 3,986

$6.08 PKR 1,691

135.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PKR 1,203

$4.25 PKR 1,183

1.88%

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

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

$17.75 PKR 4,939

226.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

$1,093 PKR 303.9K

28.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.73 PKR 4,932

$3.48 PKR 969

409.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 PKR 7,097

$28.04 PKR 7,801

-9.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

-27.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.86 PKR 9,976

$39.54 PKR 11.0K

-9.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 PKR 33.8K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

63.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

43.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 PKR 89.8K

$165 PKR 45.8K

96.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 PKR 50.6K

$105 PKR 29.2K

73.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$985 PKR 273.9K

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

-11.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$457 PKR 127.3K

$520 PKR 144.5K

-11.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

$162 PKR 45.2K

11.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.8

18.67%

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

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Last update for Swabi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Karachi and $74.2 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Karachi vs $14.00 in Swabi. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $70.0, with Swabi cheaper for home cooking.

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

Karachi vs Swabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karachi and Swabi differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($477 vs $343 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Karachi pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Karachi versus $74.2 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Karachi versus $343 in Swabi – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Swabi runs roughly 9% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Swabi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Swabi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.