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: $457 in Karachi versus $376 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Karachi versus $606 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Karachi versus $837 in Swabi.

Living in Karachi is roughly 21% more expensive than in Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Karachi 67% lower, Swabi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PKR 611

$3.69 PKR 1,024

-40.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 PKR 3,974

$22.59 PKR 6,264

-36.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 PKR 1,462

$2.83 PKR 786

86.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 593

$3.64 PKR 1,009

-41.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PKR 2,040

$1.77 PKR 492

315.82%

Cappuccino

$2.20 PKR 610

$0.57 PKR 157

285.96%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.28 PKR 77.5

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.3

$0.13 PKR 36.56

76.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 248

$0.67 PKR 186

32.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.33 PKR 92.3

57.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PKR 345

$0.91 PKR 253

36.26%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$1.10 PKR 305

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 PKR 1,715

$5.80 PKR 1,609

6.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 PKR 841

$2.41 PKR 668

25.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$2.83 PKR 783

115.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.55 PKR 154

121.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.34 PKR 95.5

61.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 PKR 272

$0.52 PKR 144

88.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 PKR 164

$0.30 PKR 84.1

96.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.2

$0.16 PKR 43.65

112.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 85.2

$0.36 PKR 98.8

-13.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.27 PKR 74.2

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 121

$0.30 PKR 84.4

43.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 347

$1.75 PKR 485

-28.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 365

$0.70 PKR 195

88.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 PKR 687

$2.36 PKR 656

5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 PKR 496

$2.27 PKR 630

-21.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.17 PKR 46.93

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 PKR 2,274

$10.77 PKR 2,985

-23.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.71 PKR 196

4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.20 PKR 55.9

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PKR 609

$1.59 PKR 441

38.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PKR 369

$0.98 PKR 272

35.71%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

65.10%

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

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

116.46%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

90.46%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,630

$3.57 PKR 989

64.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 PKR 3,565

$16.23 PKR 4,501

-20.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.32 PKR 5,633

$14.76 PKR 4,091

37.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$4.97 PKR 1,378

-11.47%

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

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$17.75 PKR 4,922

183.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

36.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.81 PKR 4,107

$3.72 PKR 1,030

298.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.90 PKR 6,072

$32.47 PKR 9,003

-32.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

-21.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.81 PKR 9,927

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

-10.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$128 PKR 35.4K

-12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

-6.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 PKR 82.2K

$248 PKR 68.7K

19.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PKR 49.9K

$147 PKR 40.6K

22.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 PKR 270.7K

$983 PKR 272.5K

-0.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$467 PKR 129.6K

$580 PKR 160.8K

-19.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

$160 PKR 44.3K

13.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

13.08

-1.53%

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

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Karachi and $128 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 14% 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: $14.00 in Karachi vs $23.00 in Swabi. Groceries flip the comparison at $101 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 21% in total monthly costs ($457 vs $376 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Karachi, 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: $111 in Karachi versus $128 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Karachi versus $376 in Swabi – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Swabi runs roughly 31% 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 21% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.