Cost of Living Comparison Between Swat and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Swat and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Swat versus $477 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $632 in Swat versus $727 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $838 in Swat versus $978 in Karachi.

Living in Swat costs roughly 11% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Swat 68% lower, Karachi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 PKR 804

$2.14 PKR 595

35.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.04 PKR 3,904

$12.44 PKR 3,461

12.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 PKR 1,518

$4.06 PKR 1,129

34.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 489

$1.99 PKR 553

-11.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,062

$5.22 PKR 1,451

-26.82%

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 549

$1.89 PKR 525

4.23%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$0.36 PKR 101

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.1

$0.23 PKR 64.2

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$0.83 PKR 231

-13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 175

$0.58 PKR 161

8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.13 PKR 315

13.27%

Eggs

$1.23 PKR 342

$1.21 PKR 337

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,688

$6.29 PKR 1,749

-3.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.37 PKR 382

$3.19 PKR 887

-57.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.43 PKR 399

$4.91 PKR 1,365

-70.88%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 PKR 249

$1.03 PKR 287

-13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 101

$0.58 PKR 162

-37.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.93 PKR 258

-45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 PKR 121

$0.56 PKR 156

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.4

$0.38 PKR 107

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.43 PKR 120

-11.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.38 PKR 385

$1.28 PKR 356

7.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

$1.26 PKR 351

-28.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PKR 547

$2.08 PKR 580

-5.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 PKR 574

$2.08 PKR 580

-0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 45.94

$0.34 PKR 94.4

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.16 PKR 1,991

$6.33 PKR 1,762

13.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 PKR 93.6

$0.74 PKR 205

-54.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 PKR 114

$0.61 PKR 171

-32.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 PKR 773

$1.79 PKR 497

55.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 254

$0.92 PKR 256

-1.09%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$16.4K PKR 4.6M

29.80%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$24.5K PKR 6.8M

6.02%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$132 PKR 36.8K

-15.40%

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

$5.35 PKR 1,488

$4.90 PKR 1,362

9.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.50 PKR 3,477

$13.63 PKR 3,791

-8.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.23 PKR 1,734

$15.55 PKR 4,325

-59.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 PKR 1,654

$14.33 PKR 3,986

-58.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 PKR 1,162

$4.33 PKR 1,203

-3.46%

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

$19.62 PKR 5,457

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

-66.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,088 PKR 302.7K

$1,402 PKR 389.9K

-22.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.26 PKR 5,915

$17.73 PKR 4,932

19.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.76 PKR 7,723

$25.51 PKR 7,097

8.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 PKR 24.9K

$64.2 PKR 17.8K

39.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.59 PKR 11.3K

$35.86 PKR 9,976

13.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$122 PKR 33.8K

-38.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.5 PKR 14.3K

$73.9 PKR 20.6K

-30.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 PKR 45.7K

$323 PKR 89.8K

-49.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PKR 29.2K

$182 PKR 50.6K

-42.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$939 PKR 261.2K

$985 PKR 273.9K

-4.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$538 PKR 149.5K

$457 PKR 127.3K

17.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 PKR 50.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

17.8

13.48%

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

Last update for Swat: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.9 in Swat and $122 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Swat vs $12.00 in Karachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $72.0 vs $97.0, with Swat 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

Swat vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Swat and Karachi differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($426 vs $477 including rent). Swat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $638 in Swat and $715 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $74.9 in Swat versus $122 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Swat versus $477 in Karachi – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Swat runs roughly 13% 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 Swat 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 Swat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.