Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Swabi and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $376 in Swabi versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $606 in Swabi versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $837 in Swabi versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Swabi costs roughly 18% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Swabi 73% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 PKR 1,024

$2.20 PKR 611

67.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.59 PKR 6,264

$14.33 PKR 3,974

57.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 PKR 786

$5.27 PKR 1,462

-46.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 PKR 1,009

$2.14 PKR 593

70.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 PKR 492

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-75.95%

Cappuccino

$0.57 PKR 157

$2.20 PKR 610

-74.09%

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

$0.28 PKR 77.5

$0.33 PKR 92.3

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 PKR 36.56

$0.23 PKR 63.3

-43.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 PKR 186

$0.89 PKR 248

-24.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 PKR 92.3

$0.52 PKR 145

-36.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.24 PKR 345

-26.61%

Eggs

$1.10 PKR 305

$1.21 PKR 335

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 PKR 1,609

$6.19 PKR 1,715

-6.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.41 PKR 668

$3.03 PKR 841

-20.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 783

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-53.68%

Apples (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.22 PKR 339

-54.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.5

$0.55 PKR 153

-38.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.98 PKR 272

-46.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 84.1

$0.59 PKR 164

-49.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.16 PKR 43.65

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-52.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 98.8

$0.31 PKR 85.2

16.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.2

$0.39 PKR 109

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 84.4

$0.43 PKR 121

-30.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$1.25 PKR 347

40.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 195

$1.32 PKR 365

-46.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 656

$2.48 PKR 687

-4.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.27 PKR 630

$1.79 PKR 496

26.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.93

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 PKR 2,985

$8.20 PKR 2,274

31.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 PKR 196

$0.74 PKR 205

-4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 PKR 55.9

$0.70 PKR 194

-71.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 PKR 441

$2.20 PKR 609

-27.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 272

$1.33 PKR 369

-26.32%

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

$10.9K PKR 3.0M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

-39.43%

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

$12.7K PKR 3.5M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-53.80%

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

$54.5 PKR 15.1K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-47.49%

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

$3.57 PKR 989

$5.88 PKR 1,630

-39.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 PKR 4,501

$12.86 PKR 3,565

26.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.76 PKR 4,091

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-27.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 PKR 1,378

$4.40 PKR 1,221

12.95%

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

$17.75 PKR 4,922

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-64.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,011 PKR 280.2K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

-26.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$3.72 PKR 1,030

$14.81 PKR 4,107

-74.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.47 PKR 9,003

$21.90 PKR 6,072

48.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PKR 23.1K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

27.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.20 PKR 11.1K

$35.81 PKR 9,927

12.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 PKR 35.4K

$111 PKR 30.8K

14.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 PKR 68.7K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-16.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 PKR 40.6K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-18.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$983 PKR 272.5K

$976 PKR 270.7K

0.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$580 PKR 160.8K

$467 PKR 129.6K

24.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 PKR 44.3K

$182 PKR 50.4K

-12.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

12.88

1.55%

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

Last update for Swabi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Swabi and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karachi pays 14% 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: $23.00 in Swabi vs $14.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $70.0 vs $101, 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

Swabi vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swabi and Karachi differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($376 vs $457 including rent). Swabi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Karachi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $128 in Swabi versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $376 per month in Swabi versus $457 in Karachi – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Swabi runs roughly 31% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 21% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.