Cost of Living Comparison Between Quesnel and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Quesnel and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Quesnel versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Quesnel versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Quesnel versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Quesnel is roughly 98% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quesnel is 86% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.27 CA$25.61
$4.55 ฿153
301.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.12 CA$66.1
$46.18 ฿1,554
2.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.25 CA$15.77
$8.84 ฿298
27.26%
Cappuccino
$4.21 CA$5.90
$3.06 ฿103
37.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 CA$2.99
$0.73 ฿24.42
191.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.28
$0.40 ฿13.40
307.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 CA$6.35
$2.43 ฿81.8
86.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 CA$8.30
$3.78 ฿127
56.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.98 CA$4.18
$2.26 ฿76.0
31.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 CA$3.85
$1.81 ฿60.9
51.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.05 CA$7.08
$2.25 ฿75.8
124.44%
Eggs
$4.03 CA$5.65
$2.25 ฿75.6
79.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.88 CA$9.65
$19.51 ฿656
-64.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.09 CA$12.74
$3.65 ฿123
149.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.20 CA$15.70
$13.05 ฿439
-14.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 CA$6.63
$3.23 ฿109
46.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$1.98
$1.62 ฿54.4
-12.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.63 CA$6.49
$2.38 ฿80.2
94.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 CA$5.59
$2.03 ฿68.2
96.55%
Potato (1kg)
$4.39 CA$6.16
$1.53 ฿51.6
186.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.77
$1.50 ฿50.5
126.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.32 CA$4.66
$0.98 ฿32.93
238.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.35
$0.52 ฿17.40
223.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.38 CA$17.36
$4.44 ฿149
178.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.40 CA$14.59
$18.32 ฿616
-43.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 CA$3.91
$1.86 ฿62.7
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 CA$6.59
$2.68 ฿90.2
75.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 CA$2.52
$1.41 ฿47.49
27.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.4 CA$88.9
$11.70 ฿394
441.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 CA$3.77
$3.11 ฿105
-13.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 CA$2.93
$1.04 ฿35.08
100.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.73 CA$61.3
$14.11 ฿475
209.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.68
$1.31 ฿44.13
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.6K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-8.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K CA$25.5K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-45.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 CA$308
$122 ฿4,120
79.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.12 CA$61.9
$13.59 ฿457
224.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 CA$94.8
$18.70 ฿629
261.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.4 CA$104
$60.5 ฿2,035
23.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 CA$13.71
$9.07 ฿305
7.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 CA$782
$706 ฿23.8K
-21.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K CA$16.6K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-24.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.91 CA$53.2
$58.6 ฿1,970
-35.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3 CA$81.7
$35.36 ฿1,190
64.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 CA$113
$115 ฿3,885
-30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$83.7 ฿2,818
31.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$953 CA$1,336
$626 ฿21.1K
52.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 CA$1,677
$445 ฿15.0K
168.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,987 CA$2,786
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-2.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,798 CA$2,521
$1,492 ฿50.2K
20.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,466 CA$6,261
$3,483 ฿117.2K
28.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,200 CA$4,486
$2,577 ฿86.7K
24.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quesnel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,446 CA$3,429
$500 ฿16.8K
389.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
5.33
21.20%

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

Last update for Quesnel: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $953 in Quesnel and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quesnel pays 389% 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: $47.00 in Quesnel vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Quesnel vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Quesnel?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quesnel or Phuket?
Average pay runs 389% higher in Quesnel, 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 Quesnel and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $953 in Quesnel versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Quesnel versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Quesnel and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Quesnel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quesnel or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,481 in Quesnel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Quesnel. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Quesnel or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Quesnel, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Quesnel or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Quesnel and Phuket 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Quesnel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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