Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Swabi vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $606 per month in Swabi vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $837 per month in Swabi vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Swabi is about 36% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Swabi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Swabi 73% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$3.57 PKR 989

3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.59 PKR 6,264

$22.74 PKR 6,305

-0.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 PKR 786

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-48.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 PKR 1,009

$3.55 PKR 985

2.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 PKR 492

$6.71 PKR 1,861

-73.62%

Cappuccino

$0.57 PKR 157

$2.39 PKR 663

-76.15%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.32 PKR 90.0

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 PKR 36.56

$0.22 PKR 60.8

-40.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.99 PKR 275

-32.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.79 PKR 219

-58.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.28 PKR 354

-28.91%

Eggs

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.28 PKR 356

-14.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 PKR 1,609

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-5.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.41 PKR 668

$3.06 PKR 848

-21.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 783

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-44.73%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.34 PKR 371

-58.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.84 PKR 232

-59.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.02 PKR 282

-49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.1

$0.49 PKR 135

-38.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

$0.29 PKR 81.1

-44.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.33 PKR 90.4

9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.38 PKR 106

-21.05%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.90 PKR 528

-7.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.38 PKR 383

-49.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 656

$2.35 PKR 651

0.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.27 PKR 630

$2.28 PKR 632

-0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.93

$0.16 PKR 44.29

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 PKR 2,985

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-49.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 PKR 196

$1.27 PKR 353

-44.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 PKR 55.9

$0.69 PKR 191

-71.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 PKR 441

$1.65 PKR 458

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.32 PKR 365

-25.76%

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

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-79.73%

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

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-49.26%

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

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

$102 PKR 28.3K

-46.63%

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

$3.57 PKR 989

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-38.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,501

$16.34 PKR 4,531

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.76 PKR 4,091

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-49.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 PKR 1,378

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-0.80%

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

$17.75 PKR 4,922

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-76.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$3.72 PKR 1,030

$23.55 PKR 6,528

-84.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.47 PKR 9,003

$32.68 PKR 9,060

-0.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-53.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-47.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-57.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.6K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-44.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$983 PKR 272.5K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-39.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$580 PKR 160.8K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-30.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 PKR 44.3K

$381 PKR 105.8K

-58.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

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

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Swabi versus $277 in Islamabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 139% higher in Islamabad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Swabi versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $70.0 vs $103 – making Swabi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Swabi vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $564 per month in Swabi and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Swabi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Islamabad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Swabi and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $376 in Swabi and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Swabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Swabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Islamabad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.