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: $484 in Lahore versus $345 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $727 in Lahore versus $541 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $970 in Lahore versus $737 in Swabi.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 PKR 580

$2.87 PKR 796

-27.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.06 PKR 3,903

$14.34 PKR 3,981

-1.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 PKR 1,207

$2.77 PKR 770

57.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PKR 765

$1.81 PKR 503

51.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 PKR 1,018

$1.80 PKR 500

103.33%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$0.55 PKR 153

334.55%

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

$0.36 PKR 98.7

$0.29 PKR 81.5

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.3

$0.15 PKR 42.78

40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$0.61 PKR 170

54.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.31 PKR 85.4

83.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 337

$0.85 PKR 237

42.35%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.08 PKR 301

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,717

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-1.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 839

$2.34 PKR 648

29.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 PKR 1,263

$2.71 PKR 754

67.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.55 PKR 154

92.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.34 PKR 93.9

85.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 169

$0.50 PKR 140

22.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.29 PKR 81.4

62.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.19 PKR 54.1

89.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$0.52 PKR 143

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 PKR 131

$0.34 PKR 93.1

38.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.29 PKR 81.1

20.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.11 PKR 308

$1.47 PKR 409

-24.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 143

$0.69 PKR 192

-26.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

$2.01 PKR 558

-45.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 546

$2.08 PKR 578

-5.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 51.2

$0.16 PKR 45.58

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.92 PKR 1,922

$7.25 PKR 2,013

-4.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 PKR 202

$0.68 PKR 188

7.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.21 PKR 57.2

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 PKR 501

$1.74 PKR 483

3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.90 PKR 251

6.67%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.9M

$10.7K PKR 3.0M

63.78%

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

$23.4K PKR 6.5M

$12.2K PKR 3.4M

91.52%

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

$141 PKR 39.2K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

160.91%

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

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$3.62 PKR 1,004

46.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 PKR 4,811

$18.35 PKR 5,096

-5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.73 PKR 3,813

$12.58 PKR 3,494

9.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.94 PKR 1,649

$6.00 PKR 1,665

-1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 PKR 1,191

$4.14 PKR 1,149

3.62%

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

$34.60 PKR 9,608

$17.34 PKR 4,814

99.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,253 PKR 347.9K

$1,097 PKR 304.7K

14.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.40 PKR 4,276

$3.57 PKR 990

331.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.27 PKR 6,462

$27.82 PKR 7,726

-16.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 PKR 19.9K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

-18.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.56 PKR 8,486

$40.25 PKR 11.2K

-24.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 PKR 33.3K

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

56.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.1K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

43.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$291 PKR 80.9K

$164 PKR 45.6K

77.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 PKR 52.2K

$108 PKR 30.0K

74.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 PKR 234.5K

$967 PKR 268.6K

-12.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 PKR 163.7K

$511 PKR 141.8K

15.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.5K

$162 PKR 44.9K

14.57%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Swabi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $120 in Lahore and $76.6 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lahore pays 15% 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 $94.0 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 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 15% higher in Lahore, 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: $120 in Lahore versus $76.6 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% 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 40% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.