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: $429 in Rawalpindi versus $343 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $679 in Rawalpindi versus $532 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in Rawalpindi versus $721 in Swabi.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 25% more expensive than Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 68% lower, Swabi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 496

$2.91 PKR 809

-38.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,957

$14.42 PKR 4,011

-1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 PKR 1,470

$2.78 PKR 774

90.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 PKR 429

$1.72 PKR 478

-10.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PKR 947

$1.79 PKR 498

89.94%

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 481

$0.55 PKR 154

214.55%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$0.29 PKR 81.6

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.2

$0.13 PKR 36.91

76.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 PKR 219

$0.63 PKR 175

25.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.31 PKR 85.3

83.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 343

$0.84 PKR 234

46.43%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 311

$1.04 PKR 289

7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 PKR 1,693

$6.34 PKR 1,763

-3.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 944

$2.31 PKR 643

46.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 PKR 1,271

$2.74 PKR 763

66.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 283

$0.56 PKR 155

82.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.34 PKR 93.3

97.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PKR 257

$0.51 PKR 142

80.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 PKR 132

$0.27 PKR 74.7

74.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 93.2

$0.17 PKR 47.00

94.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.51 PKR 142

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 PKR 72.7

$0.31 PKR 85.3

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.27 PKR 74.6

37.04%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.44 PKR 4,573

$1.36 PKR 380

1108.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.73 PKR 202

42.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 PKR 669

$2.05 PKR 569

17.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 PKR 528

$2.17 PKR 605

-12.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.36

$0.17 PKR 46.57

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 PKR 2,751

$6.88 PKR 1,914

43.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.68 PKR 189

33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 PKR 97.5

$0.16 PKR 43.74

118.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PKR 826

$1.73 PKR 481

71.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 267

$0.96 PKR 266

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

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

$10.8K PKR 3.0M

66.84%

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

$22.8K PKR 6.3M

$12.5K PKR 3.5M

81.43%

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

$100 PKR 28.0K

$52.5 PKR 14.6K

91.39%

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

$3.99 PKR 1,111

$3.57 PKR 994

11.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.64 PKR 4,630

$18.94 PKR 5,269

-12.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 PKR 2,821

$12.49 PKR 3,474

-18.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.67 PKR 2,135

$6.08 PKR 1,691

26.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 PKR 1,003

$4.25 PKR 1,183

-15.29%

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

$39.75 PKR 11.1K

$17.75 PKR 4,939

123.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$962 PKR 267.6K

$1,093 PKR 303.9K

-11.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.80 PKR 3,282

$3.48 PKR 969

239.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 PKR 5,242

$28.04 PKR 7,801

-32.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$88.9 PKR 24.7K

-1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.38 PKR 7,896

$39.54 PKR 11.0K

-28.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 PKR 36.1K

$74.2 PKR 20.6K

74.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

28.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 PKR 90.1K

$165 PKR 45.8K

96.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 PKR 48.1K

$105 PKR 29.2K

64.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,173 PKR 326.4K

$1,117 PKR 310.7K

5.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$516 PKR 143.6K

$520 PKR 144.5K

-0.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 PKR 47.6K

$162 PKR 45.2K

5.24%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Swabi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $130 in Rawalpindi and $74.2 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 5% 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 25% in total monthly costs ($429 vs $343 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Rawalpindi pays 5% 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: $130 in Rawalpindi versus $74.2 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 $429 per month in Rawalpindi versus $343 in Swabi – a 25% 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 25% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.