Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $420 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $814 in Quetta, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.70 PKR 1,026

-43.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.78 PKR 2,987

81.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.53 PKR 1,255

25.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.59 PKR 442

13.84%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.39 PKR 107

97.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.20 PKR 54.4

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.69 PKR 192

197.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.56 PKR 155

169.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.23 PKR 341

13.82%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.22 PKR 337

85.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.93 PKR 1,366

228.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.83 PKR 785

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$5.12 PKR 1,419

83.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$0.93 PKR 258

188.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.57 PKR 159

91.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.69 PKR 190

134.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.55 PKR 153

165.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.30 PKR 82.0

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.56 PKR 156

89.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.43 PKR 118

67.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.39 PKR 108

35.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 788

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.09 PKR 579

102.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.13 PKR 36.35

576.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.27 PKR 2,845

423.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.04 PKR 288

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.43 PKR 120

34.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.78 PKR 493

34.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.07 PKR 296

35.51%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

-12.58%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

9.02%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$103 PKR 28.5K

-38.16%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$8.11 PKR 2,246

58.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$16.41 PKR 4,547

25.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$5.78 PKR 1,602

575.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.33 PKR 923

97.60%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$34.78 PKR 9,635

2153.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$995 PKR 275.5K

1375.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$8.08 PKR 2,237

582.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$22.81 PKR 6,318

8.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

32.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$34.10 PKR 9,446

116.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

586.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

480.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$165 PKR 45.8K

438.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

423.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$376 PKR 104.3K

424.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$219 PKR 60.6K

560.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$274 PKR 75.9K

119.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.88

-56.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $71.4 in Quetta. 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 120% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $89.0 – making Quetta 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

Chiang Mai vs Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Quetta, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $630 in Quetta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $34.78 in Quetta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 172% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $420, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Quetta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $420 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Quetta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.