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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $352 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $550 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $748 in Quetta, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 147% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.45 PKR 960

-42.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.69 PKR 2,972

75.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.40 PKR 1,223

76.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.62 PKR 449

18.52%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.42 PKR 118

88.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.22 PKR 61.2

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.74 PKR 207

122.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.46 PKR 129

254.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.07 PKR 298

11.21%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.08 PKR 299

85.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.94 PKR 1,652

169.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.49 PKR 691

21.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.24 PKR 1,178

156.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.07 PKR 298

157.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.56 PKR 155

110.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.57 PKR 158

187.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.52 PKR 145

192.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.29 PKR 80.6

375.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.50 PKR 139

138.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.35 PKR 98.2

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.30 PKR 83.3

86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 395

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 598

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$0.72 PKR 201

536.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.18 PKR 49.40

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$5.36 PKR 1,491

249.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.33 PKR 92.5

312.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.65 PKR 180

106.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.72 PKR 479

355.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.96 PKR 266

28.13%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

0.18%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

83.87%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

34.21%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$6.38 PKR 1,774

114.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.98 PKR 3,887

24.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$5.09 PKR 1,415

711.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.81 PKR 1,614

19.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.89 PKR 804

99.65%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$35.09 PKR 9,756

775.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$424 PKR 117.8K

3349.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$7.22 PKR 2,006

672.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$6.98 PKR 1,941

275.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

-4.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$29.19 PKR 8,116

147.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

515.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

373.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$157 PKR 43.7K

419.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

434.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$381 PKR 106.0K

420.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$220 PKR 61.3K

573.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$213 PKR 59.3K

190.36%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $69.9 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 190% 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: $241 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 147% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $527 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $35.09 in Quetta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 187% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $352 in Quetta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $352 versus $869 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.