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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $537 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Quetta, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 146% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$3.52 PKR 977

-42.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿625

$10.63 PKR 2,950

76.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.38 PKR 1,216

79.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.70 PKR 471

19.41%

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

$0.80 ฿26.66

$0.42 PKR 117

90.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.69

$0.20 PKR 55.4

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.7

$0.74 PKR 206

133.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.46 PKR 128

241.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.03

$1.03 PKR 285

16.50%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.9

$1.12 PKR 310

75.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿542

$5.92 PKR 1,644

174.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.58 PKR 716

18.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$4.12 PKR 1,143

162.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.4

$1.04 PKR 289

166.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.98

$0.55 PKR 154

112.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.57 PKR 157

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.48 PKR 133

231.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.55

$0.31 PKR 87.2

348.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.60

$0.48 PKR 132

141.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.07

$0.35 PKR 98.5

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.32

$0.32 PKR 90.1

62.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 402

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 PKR 581

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$0.69 PKR 192

573.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.30

$0.16 PKR 43.93

468.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿623

$5.23 PKR 1,453

256.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$0.36 PKR 101

291.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.74

$0.62 PKR 171

116.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$1.73 PKR 481

368.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.19

$0.97 PKR 268

26.80%

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

$21.4K ฿715.7K

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

-0.49%

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

$21.8K ฿728.7K

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

79.72%

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

$71.3 ฿2,382

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

35.66%

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

$14.01 ฿468

$6.41 PKR 1,778

118.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿599

$14.32 PKR 3,975

25.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,363

$4.96 PKR 1,378

722.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.76 PKR 1,600

19.44%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.90 PKR 805

97.24%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$34.09 PKR 9,461

804.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.1K

$417 PKR 115.7K

3421.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,862

$6.98 PKR 1,937

699.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$7.24 PKR 2,010

259.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,832

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

-2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,370

$29.59 PKR 8,213

139.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

506.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,095

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

391.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$159 PKR 44.1K

402.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

425.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.1K

$376 PKR 104.2K

410.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.9K

$214 PKR 59.3K

584.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$271 PKR 75.3K

119.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $69.8 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 119% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $84.0 – 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 146% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $519 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $34.09 in Quetta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 191% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $346 in Quetta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $346 versus $852 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.