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: $500 in Lahore versus $376 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Lahore versus $606 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Lahore versus $837 in Swabi.

Living in Lahore is roughly 33% more expensive than in Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lahore 64% lower, Swabi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 PKR 719

$3.69 PKR 1,024

-29.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.55 PKR 4,034

$22.59 PKR 6,264

-35.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 PKR 1,569

$2.83 PKR 786

100.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 PKR 988

$3.64 PKR 1,009

-2.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$1.77 PKR 492

212.99%

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 697

$0.57 PKR 157

340.35%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.28 PKR 77.5

53.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.13 PKR 36.56

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 237

$0.67 PKR 186

26.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 PKR 199

$0.33 PKR 92.3

118.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$0.91 PKR 253

28.57%

Eggs

$1.25 PKR 346

$1.10 PKR 305

13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$5.80 PKR 1,609

10.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.45 PKR 678

$2.41 PKR 668

1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 PKR 1,310

$2.83 PKR 783

66.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 323

$0.55 PKR 154

112.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 182

$0.34 PKR 95.5

94.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.52 PKR 144

63.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 167

$0.30 PKR 84.1

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 83.9

$0.16 PKR 43.65

87.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.9

$0.36 PKR 98.8

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PKR 124

$0.27 PKR 74.2

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.30 PKR 84.4

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.09 PKR 303

$1.75 PKR 485

-37.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.70 PKR 195

-7.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 PKR 475

$2.36 PKR 656

-27.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 PKR 596

$2.27 PKR 630

-5.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.73

$0.17 PKR 46.93

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.27 PKR 1,461

$10.77 PKR 2,985

-51.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.71 PKR 196

23.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.20 PKR 55.9

245.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 PKR 490

$1.59 PKR 441

11.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 PKR 350

$0.98 PKR 272

28.57%

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

64.44%

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

$26.6K PKR 7.4M

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

108.80%

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

$124 PKR 34.3K

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

126.87%

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

$5.17 PKR 1,432

$3.57 PKR 989

44.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.25 PKR 4,507

$16.23 PKR 4,501

0.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.21 PKR 5,325

$14.76 PKR 4,091

30.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 PKR 2,944

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 PKR 1,191

$4.97 PKR 1,378

-13.48%

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

$44.27 PKR 12.3K

$17.75 PKR 4,922

149.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,982 PKR 549.5K

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

96.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 PKR 4,665

$3.72 PKR 1,030

352.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.65 PKR 7,111

$32.47 PKR 9,003

-21.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

-9.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.41 PKR 8,153

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

-26.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PKR 42.0K

$128 PKR 35.4K

18.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.3 PKR 22.3K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

5.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 PKR 87.9K

$248 PKR 68.7K

27.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PKR 53.1K

$147 PKR 40.6K

30.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$840 PKR 232.9K

$983 PKR 272.5K

-14.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$594 PKR 164.6K

$580 PKR 160.8K

2.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 PKR 50.8K

$160 PKR 44.3K

14.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.22

13.08

8.72%

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

Last update for Lahore: August 29, 2026

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Lahore and $128 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: $15.00 in Lahore vs $23.00 in Swabi. Groceries flip the comparison at $95.0 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 33% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $376 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: $151 in Lahore versus $128 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% 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 $23.00 versus $15.00 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 33% less than in Lahore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.