Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Swabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lahore and Swabi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $492 in Lahore versus $343 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $746 in Lahore versus $532 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Lahore versus $721 in Swabi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 43% more expensive than Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 63% lower, Swabi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 582

$2.91 PKR 809

-28.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.24 PKR 3,961

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 PKR 1,189

$2.78 PKR 774

53.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 774

$1.72 PKR 478

61.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,007

$1.79 PKR 498

102.23%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PKR 651

$0.55 PKR 154

325.45%

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

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.29 PKR 81.6

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.0

$0.13 PKR 36.91

76.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 PKR 247

$0.63 PKR 175

41.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.31 PKR 85.3

83.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 324

$0.84 PKR 234

39.29%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$1.04 PKR 289

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,700

$6.34 PKR 1,763

-3.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PKR 849

$2.31 PKR 643

32.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.44 PKR 1,234

$2.74 PKR 763

62.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.56 PKR 155

82.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.34 PKR 93.3

76.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 168

$0.51 PKR 142

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.27 PKR 74.7

77.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 PKR 90.2

$0.17 PKR 47.00

88.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$0.51 PKR 142

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PKR 123

$0.31 PKR 85.3

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.27 PKR 74.6

40.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.36 PKR 380

-31.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.73 PKR 202

-24.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

$2.05 PKR 569

-45.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 PKR 555

$2.17 PKR 605

-8.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.7

$0.17 PKR 46.57

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$6.88 PKR 1,914

1.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 PKR 194

$0.68 PKR 189

2.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 138

$0.16 PKR 43.74

206.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 496

$1.73 PKR 481

2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.96 PKR 266

-5.21%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$10.8K PKR 3.0M

61.01%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$12.5K PKR 3.5M

89.51%

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

$138 PKR 38.3K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

162.27%

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

$5.59 PKR 1,554

$3.57 PKR 994

56.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.01 PKR 4,733

$18.94 PKR 5,269

-10.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.75 PKR 3,824

$12.49 PKR 3,474

10.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 PKR 1,595

$6.08 PKR 1,691

-5.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 PKR 1,206

$4.25 PKR 1,183

2.12%

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

$35.47 PKR 9,869

$17.75 PKR 4,939

99.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,238 PKR 344.3K

$1,093 PKR 303.9K

13.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.98 PKR 4,168

$3.48 PKR 969

330.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.69 PKR 6,311

$28.04 PKR 7,801

-19.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PKR 20.2K

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

-18.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 PKR 8,304

$39.54 PKR 11.0K

-24.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.9K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

59.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.7 PKR 21.3K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

48.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 PKR 79.6K

$165 PKR 45.8K

73.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$105 PKR 29.2K

78.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 PKR 234.4K

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

-24.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$615 PKR 171.2K

$520 PKR 144.5K

18.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.3K

$162 PKR 45.2K

13.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

32.53%

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

Last update for Lahore: May 31, 2026

Last update for Swabi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Lahore and $74.2 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore 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 Lahore vs $14.00 in Swabi. Groceries flip the comparison at $93.0 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

Lahore vs Swabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lahore and Swabi differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($492 vs $343 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lahore pays 14% 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: $118 in Lahore versus $74.2 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Lahore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Swabi – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $14.00 in Lahore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 43% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.