Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $420 in Quetta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $617 in Quetta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $814 in Quetta.

Living in Phuket is roughly 193% more expensive than in Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Quetta 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$3.70 PKR 1,026
19.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$10.78 PKR 2,987
199.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$4.53 PKR 1,255
97.13%
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
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.59 PKR 442
82.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$0.39 PKR 107
125.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.20 PKR 54.4
140.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$0.69 PKR 192
171.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$0.56 PKR 155
162.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.23 PKR 341
26.02%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$1.22 PKR 337
72.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$4.93 PKR 1,366
297.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$2.83 PKR 785
20.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$5.12 PKR 1,419
122.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$0.93 PKR 258
220.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$0.57 PKR 159
194.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$0.69 PKR 190
220.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$0.55 PKR 153
292.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$0.30 PKR 82.0
406.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$0.56 PKR 156
139.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.43 PKR 118
162.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.39 PKR 108
41.03%
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)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.09 PKR 579
103.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$0.13 PKR 36.35
1615.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$10.27 PKR 2,845
121.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.04 PKR 288
191.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.43 PKR 120
137.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$1.78 PKR 493
118.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.07 PKR 296
39.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
10.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$24.2K PKR 6.7M
11.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$103 PKR 28.5K
-0.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$8.11 PKR 2,246
39.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$16.41 PKR 4,547
6.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$5.78 PKR 1,602
801.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$3.33 PKR 923
130.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$34.78 PKR 9,635
1511.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$995 PKR 275.5K
1056.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$8.08 PKR 2,237
680.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$22.81 PKR 6,318
29.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$70.8 PKR 19.6K
38.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$34.10 PKR 9,446
159.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$71.4 PKR 19.8K
934.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$49.66 PKR 13.8K
871.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$165 PKR 45.8K
1173.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$99.5 PKR 27.6K
1131.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$376 PKR 104.3K
860.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$219 PKR 60.6K
1090.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$274 PKR 75.9K
80.19%
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 Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $71.4 in Quetta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $11.00 in Quetta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $89.0 per month, with Quetta cheaper across the board.

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
Phuket vs Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quetta cheaper than Phuket?
Quetta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Quetta?
Average pay runs 80% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Quetta?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $71.4 in Quetta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $34.78 in Quetta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Quetta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 209% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Quetta?
At $420 in Quetta versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quetta but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Quetta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Quetta more family-friendly?
For families, Quetta is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Quetta?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Quetta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities