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: $484 in Karachi versus $345 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Karachi versus $541 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $987 in Karachi versus $737 in Swabi.

Living in Karachi is roughly 40% more expensive than in Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.87 PKR 796

-28.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.56 PKR 3,487

$14.34 PKR 3,981

-12.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 PKR 1,108

$2.77 PKR 770

44.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PKR 537

$1.81 PKR 503

6.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,463

$1.80 PKR 500

192.78%

Cappuccino

$1.81 PKR 502

$0.55 PKR 153

229.09%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.29 PKR 81.5

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.0

$0.15 PKR 42.78

40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 220

$0.61 PKR 170

29.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 PKR 161

$0.31 PKR 85.4

87.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 328

$0.85 PKR 237

38.82%

Eggs

$1.15 PKR 321

$1.08 PKR 301

6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,781

$6.28 PKR 1,744

2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 PKR 867

$2.34 PKR 648

33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PKR 1,413

$2.71 PKR 754

87.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$0.55 PKR 154

87.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.34 PKR 93.9

76.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.50 PKR 140

84.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.29 PKR 81.4

96.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.19 PKR 54.1

84.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.52 PKR 143

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 PKR 99.8

$0.34 PKR 93.1

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.29 PKR 81.1

41.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.47 PKR 409

-14.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PKR 367

$0.69 PKR 192

91.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 PKR 572

$2.01 PKR 558

2.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 PKR 599

$2.08 PKR 578

3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PKR 92.7

$0.16 PKR 45.58

106.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 PKR 1,785

$7.25 PKR 2,013

-11.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 PKR 206

$0.68 PKR 188

8.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.21 PKR 57.2

190.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$1.74 PKR 483

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$0.90 PKR 251

4.44%

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

$16.7K PKR 4.6M

$10.7K PKR 3.0M

56.83%

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

$25.3K PKR 7.0M

$12.2K PKR 3.4M

106.54%

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

$134 PKR 37.3K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

148.31%

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

$5.00 PKR 1,388

$3.62 PKR 1,004

38.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.28 PKR 3,689

$18.35 PKR 5,096

-27.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.87 PKR 4,406

$12.58 PKR 3,494

26.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 PKR 3,984

$6.00 PKR 1,665

139.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.14 PKR 1,149

4.83%

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

$58.8 PKR 16.3K

$17.34 PKR 4,814

238.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,356 PKR 376.6K

$1,097 PKR 304.7K

23.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.71 PKR 4,919

$3.57 PKR 990

396.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.79 PKR 7,162

$27.82 PKR 7,726

-7.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-26.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.84 PKR 9,953

$40.25 PKR 11.2K

-10.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

54.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 PKR 20.7K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

41.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 PKR 88.6K

$164 PKR 45.6K

94.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 PKR 50.3K

$108 PKR 30.0K

67.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 PKR 258.7K

$967 PKR 268.6K

-3.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$433 PKR 120.3K

$511 PKR 141.8K

-15.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 PKR 49.1K

$162 PKR 44.9K

9.43%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Swabi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Karachi and $76.6 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 9% 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: $13.00 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 40% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $345 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $118 in Karachi versus $76.6 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Karachi versus $345 in Swabi – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Swabi runs roughly 13% 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 40% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.