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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $345 per month in Swabi vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $541 per month in Swabi vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $737 per month in Swabi vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Swabi is about 35% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Swabi and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Swabi 74% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 PKR 796

$2.85 PKR 791

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.34 PKR 3,981

$14.26 PKR 3,960

0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 PKR 770

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-49.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 503

$1.72 PKR 477

5.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 PKR 500

$3.82 PKR 1,061

-52.88%

Cappuccino

$0.55 PKR 153

$1.97 PKR 547

-72.08%

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

$0.29 PKR 81.5

$0.40 PKR 110

-27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 PKR 42.78

$0.24 PKR 67.0

-37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 PKR 170

$0.96 PKR 268

-36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$0.66 PKR 183

-53.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 PKR 237

$1.28 PKR 355

-33.59%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 301

$1.20 PKR 334

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 PKR 1,744

$6.07 PKR 1,687

3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.34 PKR 648

$3.37 PKR 937

-30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.71 PKR 754

$4.35 PKR 1,209

-37.70%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.04 PKR 289

-47.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 93.9

$0.84 PKR 234

-59.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.91 PKR 253

-45.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.4

$0.56 PKR 156

-48.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.19 PKR 54.1

$0.41 PKR 115

-53.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 143

$0.57 PKR 158

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

$0.31 PKR 85.4

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PKR 81.1

$0.41 PKR 113

-29.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.47 PKR 409

$2.00 PKR 555

-26.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.93 PKR 258

-25.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 558

$2.04 PKR 567

-1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 PKR 578

$2.14 PKR 595

-2.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 45.58

$0.17 PKR 46.51

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.25 PKR 2,013

$7.22 PKR 2,005

0.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 PKR 188

$0.85 PKR 236

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 PKR 57.2

$0.43 PKR 120

-51.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 483

$2.79 PKR 775

-37.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 251

$0.98 PKR 271

-8.16%

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

$10.7K PKR 3.0M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

-48.92%

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

$12.2K PKR 3.4M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

-52.83%

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

$54.1 PKR 15.0K

$114 PKR 31.6K

-52.41%

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

$3.62 PKR 1,004

$5.41 PKR 1,501

-33.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.35 PKR 5,096

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.58 PKR 3,494

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-43.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,665

$6.12 PKR 1,698

-1.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,149

$4.14 PKR 1,150

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

$17.34 PKR 4,814

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

-71.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,097 PKR 304.7K

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

-60.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$3.57 PKR 990

$21.08 PKR 5,854

-83.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.82 PKR 7,726

$27.64 PKR 7,674

0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 PKR 24.4K

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.25 PKR 11.2K

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

-1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 PKR 21.3K

$199 PKR 55.3K

-61.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.7 PKR 14.6K

$110 PKR 30.5K

-52.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.6K

$505 PKR 140.1K

-67.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 PKR 30.0K

$299 PKR 83.0K

-63.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$967 PKR 268.6K

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

-36.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$511 PKR 141.8K

$647 PKR 179.8K

-21.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 PKR 44.9K

$385 PKR 106.9K

-58.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

-25.74%

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

Last update for Swabi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.6 in Swabi versus $199 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 138% 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 $14.00 in Swabi versus $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $70.0 vs $100 – 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 55%, 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 $517 per month in Swabi and $801 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 41% 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 $14.00 in Swabi and $14.00 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 $345 in Swabi and $534 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.