Cost of Living Comparison Between Swat and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Swat and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Swat vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $666 per month in Swat vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $901 per month in Swat vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Swat is about 27% cheaper than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Swat and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Swat 69% lower, Islamabad 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 PKR 1,006

$3.57 PKR 989

1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.46 PKR 6,505

$22.74 PKR 6,305

3.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 PKR 1,020

$5.47 PKR 1,516

-32.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 PKR 993

$3.55 PKR 985

0.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 PKR 1,943

$6.71 PKR 1,861

4.47%

Cappuccino

$2.40 PKR 665

$2.39 PKR 663

0.42%

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

$0.32 PKR 89.6

$0.32 PKR 90.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.6

$0.22 PKR 60.8

9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 PKR 256

$0.99 PKR 275

-6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.79 PKR 219

-46.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$1.28 PKR 354

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.28 PKR 356

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$6.11 PKR 1,694

-4.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.36 PKR 377

$3.06 PKR 848

-55.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.48 PKR 411

$5.12 PKR 1,420

-71.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 291

$1.34 PKR 371

-21.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 PKR 228

$0.84 PKR 232

-2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.02 PKR 282

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.49 PKR 135

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.9

$0.29 PKR 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.8

$0.33 PKR 90.4

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PKR 74.4

$0.29 PKR 80.8

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 115

$0.38 PKR 106

7.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.90 PKR 528

-4.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 PKR 378

$1.38 PKR 383

-1.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PKR 685

$2.35 PKR 651

5.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.38 PKR 661

$2.28 PKR 632

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.31

$0.16 PKR 44.29

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PKR 2,457

$21.23 PKR 5,885

-58.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 PKR 356

$1.27 PKR 353

0.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.69 PKR 191

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 PKR 460

$1.65 PKR 458

0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 PKR 286

$1.32 PKR 365

-21.97%

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

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-60.00%

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

$24.8K PKR 6.9M

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

-1.12%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$102 PKR 28.3K

0.72%

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

$5.81 PKR 1,610

$5.83 PKR 1,617

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.47 PKR 4,566

$16.34 PKR 4,531

0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.02 PKR 3,056

$29.09 PKR 8,066

-62.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,477

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 PKR 1,317

$5.01 PKR 1,389

-5.19%

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

$42.58 PKR 11.8K

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

-43.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 PKR 279.9K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

-80.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.37 PKR 6,757

$23.55 PKR 6,528

3.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.05 PKR 9,163

$32.68 PKR 9,060

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.07 PKR 6,952

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

-70.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.04 PKR 10.8K

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

-0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 PKR 35.3K

$277 PKR 76.8K

-54.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.4 PKR 21.4K

$144 PKR 40.0K

-46.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 PKR 70.7K

$577 PKR 160.0K

-55.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 PKR 42.9K

$266 PKR 73.8K

-41.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$802 PKR 222.3K

$1,635 PKR 453.2K

-50.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$443 PKR 122.9K

$829 PKR 230.0K

-46.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

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 Swat: August 31, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Swat 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Swat versus $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $74.0 vs $103 – making Swat 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

Swat vs Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Islamabad is pricier by about 37%, 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 $647 per month in Swat 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 Swat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 Swat 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 $431 in Swat and $589 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Swat – 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 Swat. 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.