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: $504 in Rawalpindi versus $376 in Swabi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $786 in Rawalpindi versus $606 in Swabi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Rawalpindi versus $837 in Swabi.

Living in Rawalpindi is roughly 34% more expensive than in Swabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawalpindi 63% lower, Swabi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 PKR 588

$3.69 PKR 1,024

-42.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.93 PKR 4,416

$22.59 PKR 6,264

-29.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PKR 1,633

$2.83 PKR 786

108.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$3.64 PKR 1,009

-50.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 PKR 976

$1.77 PKR 492

98.87%

Cappuccino

$1.94 PKR 538

$0.57 PKR 157

240.35%

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

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.28 PKR 77.5

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 PKR 69.4

$0.13 PKR 36.56

92.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 250

$0.67 PKR 186

34.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.33 PKR 92.3

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 342

$0.91 PKR 253

35.16%

Eggs

$1.11 PKR 307

$1.10 PKR 305

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PKR 1,708

$5.80 PKR 1,609

6.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 PKR 988

$2.41 PKR 668

48.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PKR 1,446

$2.83 PKR 783

84.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 PKR 316

$0.55 PKR 154

107.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 PKR 237

$0.34 PKR 95.5

152.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 340

$0.52 PKR 144

136.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.30 PKR 84.1

90.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 99.3

$0.16 PKR 43.65

125.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 PKR 127

$0.36 PKR 98.8

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.1

$0.27 PKR 74.2

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 PKR 111

$0.30 PKR 84.4

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$16.28 PKR 4,515

$1.75 PKR 485

830.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PKR 332

$0.70 PKR 195

71.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.36 PKR 656

4.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 PKR 535

$2.27 PKR 630

-14.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.62

$0.17 PKR 46.93

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 PKR 2,807

$10.77 PKR 2,985

-6.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 253

$0.71 PKR 196

28.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 PKR 104

$0.20 PKR 55.9

90.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PKR 876

$1.59 PKR 441

98.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PKR 312

$0.98 PKR 272

15.31%

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

$18.2K PKR 5.1M

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

66.73%

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

$25.0K PKR 6.9M

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

96.07%

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

$115 PKR 31.9K

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

111.03%

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

$5.49 PKR 1,522

$3.57 PKR 989

53.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.67 PKR 5,175

$16.23 PKR 4,501

15.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.12 PKR 3,361

$14.76 PKR 4,091

-17.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.75 PKR 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,187

$4.97 PKR 1,378

-13.88%

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

$48.47 PKR 13.4K

$17.75 PKR 4,922

173.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$844 PKR 234.0K

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

-16.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.85 PKR 5,780

$3.72 PKR 1,030

460.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.03 PKR 7,771

$32.47 PKR 9,003

-13.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 PKR 25.2K

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 PKR 10.1K

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 PKR 56.7K

$128 PKR 35.4K

60.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.0 PKR 22.7K

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

8.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 PKR 121.5K

$248 PKR 68.7K

76.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PKR 62.5K

$147 PKR 40.6K

53.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 PKR 322.8K

$983 PKR 272.5K

18.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$512 PKR 142.1K

$580 PKR 160.8K

-11.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$175 PKR 48.4K

$160 PKR 44.3K

9.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.81

13.08

74.39%

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

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Rawalpindi and $128 in Swabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawalpindi pays 9% 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: $16.00 in Rawalpindi vs $23.00 in Swabi. Groceries flip the comparison at $103 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 34% in total monthly costs ($504 vs $376 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $204 in Rawalpindi versus $128 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 $23.00 versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $504 per month in Rawalpindi versus $376 in Swabi – a 34% 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 34% less than in Rawalpindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.