Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Swabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawalpindi and Swabi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Rawalpindi versus $345 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $671 in Rawalpindi versus $541 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Rawalpindi versus $737 in Swabi.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 27% more expensive than in Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 67% lower, Swabi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 PKR 505

$2.87 PKR 796

-36.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 PKR 3,873

$14.34 PKR 3,981

-2.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PKR 1,499

$2.77 PKR 770

94.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 PKR 433

$1.81 PKR 503

-13.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PKR 980

$1.80 PKR 500

96.11%

Cappuccino

$1.71 PKR 474

$0.55 PKR 153

210.91%

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

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.29 PKR 81.5

6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.15 PKR 42.78

53.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 PKR 239

$0.61 PKR 170

40.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.31 PKR 85.4

70.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PKR 361

$0.85 PKR 237

52.94%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 312

$1.08 PKR 301

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 PKR 1,674

$6.28 PKR 1,744

-3.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 PKR 953

$2.34 PKR 648

46.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 PKR 1,221

$2.71 PKR 754

62.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PKR 280

$0.55 PKR 154

83.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$0.34 PKR 93.9

102.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 236

$0.50 PKR 140

70.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 129

$0.29 PKR 81.4

62.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 94.1

$0.19 PKR 54.1

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.52 PKR 143

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.24 PKR 66.0

$0.34 PKR 93.1

-29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 109

$0.29 PKR 81.1

34.48%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.04 PKR 4,454

$1.47 PKR 409

991.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PKR 274

$0.69 PKR 192

43.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PKR 666

$2.01 PKR 558

19.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 531

$2.08 PKR 578

-8.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.1

$0.16 PKR 45.58

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.52 PKR 2,645

$7.25 PKR 2,013

31.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$0.68 PKR 188

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 PKR 89.7

$0.21 PKR 57.2

52.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 PKR 811

$1.74 PKR 483

67.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 270

$0.90 PKR 251

7.78%

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

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

$10.7K PKR 3.0M

65.27%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$12.2K PKR 3.4M

86.11%

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

$104 PKR 28.8K

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

91.63%

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

$4.04 PKR 1,121

$3.62 PKR 1,004

11.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.63 PKR 4,618

$18.35 PKR 5,096

-9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 PKR 2,768

$12.58 PKR 3,494

-20.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 PKR 2,062

$6.00 PKR 1,665

23.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.47 PKR 964

$4.14 PKR 1,149

-16.18%

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

$40.20 PKR 11.2K

$17.34 PKR 4,814

131.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$948 PKR 263.3K

$1,097 PKR 304.7K

-13.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.90 PKR 3,304

$3.57 PKR 990

233.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.45 PKR 5,124

$27.82 PKR 7,726

-33.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PKR 24.9K

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

2.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PKR 8,052

$40.25 PKR 11.2K

-27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 PKR 36.8K

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

73.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 PKR 18.1K

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

23.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 PKR 91.6K

$164 PKR 45.6K

100.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 PKR 47.4K

$108 PKR 30.0K

58.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 PKR 326.5K

$967 PKR 268.6K

21.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 PKR 143.8K

$511 PKR 141.8K

1.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.5K

$162 PKR 44.9K

7.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

34.47%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Swabi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Rawalpindi and $76.6 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 8% 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 Rawalpindi vs $14.00 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

Rawalpindi vs Swabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rawalpindi and Swabi differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($437 vs $345 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Rawalpindi, 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: $133 in Rawalpindi versus $76.6 in Swabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Rawalpindi versus $345 in Swabi – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 27% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.