Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $420 per month in Quetta vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Quetta vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $814 per month in Quetta vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quetta is about 55% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quetta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 69% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 PKR 1,026

$2.08 ฿69.5

77.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,987

$19.61 ฿655

-45.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,255

$5.67 ฿189

-20.11%

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

$1.59 PKR 442

$1.81 ฿60.3

-12.15%

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

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.77 ฿25.65

-49.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.35 ฿11.53

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 PKR 192

$2.05 ฿68.4

-66.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$1.51 ฿50.6

-62.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.40 ฿46.69

-12.14%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$2.26 ฿75.4

-46.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,366

$16.19 ฿540

-69.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 785

$2.90 ฿96.7

-2.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,419

$9.42 ฿314

-45.65%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$2.68 ฿89.4

-65.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$1.09 ฿36.37

-47.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$1.62 ฿54.0

-57.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$1.46 ฿48.74

-62.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.0

$1.28 ฿42.65

-76.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$1.06 ฿35.31

-47.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.72 ฿23.94

-40.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.53 ฿17.56

-26.42%

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)

$2.09 PKR 579

$4.23 ฿141

-50.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 PKR 36.35

$0.88 ฿29.32

-85.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,845

$53.8 ฿1,795

-80.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$1.17 ฿39.14

-11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.58 ฿19.30

-25.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 493

$2.39 ฿79.6

-25.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.45 ฿48.41

-26.21%

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

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

14.40%

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

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-8.28%

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

$103 PKR 28.5K

$63.7 ฿2,125

61.70%

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

$8.11 PKR 2,246

$12.89 ฿430

-37.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,547

$20.52 ฿685

-20.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$39.02 ฿1,302

-85.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 923

$6.58 ฿220

-49.39%

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

$34.78 PKR 9,635

$784 ฿26.2K

-95.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$995 PKR 275.5K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-93.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.08 PKR 2,237

$55.1 ฿1,840

-85.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.81 PKR 6,318

$24.74 ฿826

-7.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

$94.1 ฿3,142

-24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.10 PKR 9,446

$74.0 ฿2,469

-53.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$490 ฿16.4K

-85.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

$288 ฿9,620

-82.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$891 ฿29.8K

-81.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

$521 ฿17.4K

-80.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.3K

$1,974 ฿65.9K

-80.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$219 PKR 60.6K

$1,444 ฿48.2K

-84.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 PKR 75.9K

$602 ฿20.1K

-54.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

5.57

131.24%

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

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.4 in Quetta versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 120% 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 $11.00 in Quetta versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $241 – 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

Quetta vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% 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 $630 per month in Quetta and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. 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 $34.78 per month in Quetta and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 172% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $420, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Quetta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $420 versus $932 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.