Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $335 in Kota versus $420 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $536 in Kota versus $617 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $738 in Kota versus $814 in Quetta.

Living in Kota costs roughly 20% less than in Quetta, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kota 76% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ₹205
$3.70 PKR 1,026
-42.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.99 ₹767
$10.78 PKR 2,987
-25.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.68 ₹257
$4.53 PKR 1,255
-40.84%
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
$0.65 ₹62.0
$1.59 PKR 442
-59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹34.04
$0.39 PKR 107
-10.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.70
$0.20 PKR 54.4
-15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 ₹149
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ₹307
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.59 ₹56.6
$0.69 PKR 192
-14.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 ₹38.98
$0.56 PKR 155
-26.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.64 ₹61.3
$1.23 PKR 341
-47.97%
Eggs
$0.82 ₹79.1
$1.22 PKR 337
-32.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.31 ₹414
$4.93 PKR 1,366
-12.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ₹256
$2.83 PKR 785
-5.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.12 PKR 1,419
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 ₹146
$0.93 PKR 258
63.44%
Banana (1kg)
$0.51 ₹49.25
$0.57 PKR 159
-10.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 ₹64.7
$0.69 PKR 190
-2.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.44 ₹41.81
$0.55 PKR 153
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 ₹30.11
$0.30 PKR 82.0
3.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ₹38.65
$0.56 PKR 156
-28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 ₹31.14
$0.43 PKR 118
-25.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₹26.46
$0.39 PKR 108
-28.21%
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)
$4.24 ₹406
$2.09 PKR 579
102.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 ₹737
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₹143
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₹185
-
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.74 ₹455
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kota
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₹51.7
$0.13 PKR 36.35
315.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.99 ₹2,493
$10.27 PKR 2,845
153.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 ₹28.63
$1.04 PKR 288
-71.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₹21.15
$0.43 PKR 120
-48.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ₹98.2
$1.78 PKR 493
-42.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹105
$1.07 PKR 296
2.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.7K ₹1.5M
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
-34.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ₹1.7M
$24.2K PKR 6.7M
-28.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.16 ₹1,262
$103 PKR 28.5K
-87.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.49 ₹239
$8.11 PKR 2,246
-69.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.27 ₹602
$16.41 PKR 4,547
-61.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.34 ₹992
$5.78 PKR 1,602
78.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.11 ₹394
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 ₹292
$3.33 PKR 923
-8.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$33.94 ₹3,256
$34.78 PKR 9,635
-2.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$648 ₹62.1K
$995 PKR 275.5K
-34.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.08 ₹2,119
$8.08 PKR 2,237
173.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.79 ₹3,146
$22.81 PKR 6,318
43.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.83 ₹3,341
$70.8 PKR 19.6K
-50.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.02 ₹2,017
$34.10 PKR 9,446
-38.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$143 ₹13.7K
$71.4 PKR 19.8K
100.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.0 ₹7,578
$49.66 PKR 13.8K
59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 ₹25.9K
$165 PKR 45.8K
62.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 ₹16.4K
$99.5 PKR 27.6K
71.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$556 ₹53.3K
$376 PKR 104.3K
47.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$333 ₹31.9K
$219 PKR 60.6K
52.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$417 ₹40.0K
$274 PKR 75.9K
52.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
12.88
-41.77%

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

Last update for Kota: September 12, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Kota and $71.4 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kota pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $8.00 in Kota vs $11.00 in Quetta. Groceries flip the comparison at $91.0 vs $89.0, with Quetta 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
Kota vs Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kota and in Quetta?
Kota and Quetta differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($335 vs $420 including rent). Kota is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kota or Quetta?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Kota, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kota and in Quetta?
Rent for a central apartment: $143 in Kota versus $71.4 in Quetta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Quetta pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kota – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $11.00 in Quetta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Kota compared to Quetta?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kota gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Kota and Quetta?
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.
Where should expats move: Kota or Quetta?
Expats usually find Kota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Quetta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kota vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities