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 $346 per month in Quetta vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $537 per month in Quetta vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $728 per month in Quetta vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quetta is about 59% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quetta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 PKR 977

$2.04 ฿68.2

72.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 PKR 2,950

$18.71 ฿625

-43.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 PKR 1,216

$7.86 ฿262

-44.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 431

Cappuccino

$1.70 PKR 471

$2.03 ฿67.7

-16.26%

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

$0.42 PKR 117

$0.80 ฿26.66

-47.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.4

$0.35 ฿11.69

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 206

$1.73 ฿57.7

-57.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 128

$1.57 ฿52.5

-70.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 285

$1.20 ฿40.03

-14.17%

Eggs

$1.12 PKR 310

$1.97 ฿65.9

-43.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,644

$16.23 ฿542

-63.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.58 PKR 716

$3.06 ฿102

-15.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 PKR 1,143

$10.80 ฿361

-61.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.77 ฿92.4

-62.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 154

$1.17 ฿38.98

-52.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 157

$1.71 ฿57.0

-66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 133

$1.59 ฿53.2

-69.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.2

$1.39 ฿46.55

-77.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 132

$1.16 ฿38.60

-58.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.5

$0.66 ฿22.07

-46.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.1

$0.52 ฿17.32

-38.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 402

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 93.1

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 PKR 581

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 192

$4.65 ฿155

-85.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 43.93

$0.91 ฿30.30

-82.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.23 PKR 1,453

$18.64 ฿623

-71.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 PKR 101

$1.41 ฿47.08

-74.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 PKR 171

$1.34 ฿44.74

-53.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 PKR 481

$8.11 ฿271

-78.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 268

$1.23 ฿41.19

-21.14%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$21.4K ฿715.7K

0.50%

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

$12.1K PKR 3.4M

$21.8K ฿728.7K

-44.36%

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

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$71.3 ฿2,382

-26.29%

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

$6.41 PKR 1,778

$14.01 ฿468

-54.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.32 PKR 3,975

$17.93 ฿599

-20.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.96 PKR 1,378

$40.82 ฿1,363

-87.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.76 PKR 1,600

$6.88 ฿230

-16.28%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 PKR 805

$5.72 ฿191

-49.30%

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

$34.09 PKR 9,461

$308 ฿10.3K

-88.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$417 PKR 115.7K

$14.7K ฿490.1K

-97.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.98 PKR 1,937

$55.8 ฿1,862

-87.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.24 PKR 2,010

$26.04 ฿869

-72.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 PKR 24.2K

$84.8 ฿2,832

2.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.59 PKR 8,213

$71.0 ฿2,370

-58.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.8 PKR 19.4K

$423 ฿14.1K

-83.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.30 PKR 13.7K

$242 ฿8,095

-79.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 PKR 44.1K

$797 ฿26.6K

-80.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.5 PKR 26.8K

$507 ฿16.9K

-80.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.2K

$1,918 ฿64.1K

-80.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$214 PKR 59.3K

$1,464 ฿48.9K

-85.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 PKR 75.3K

$595 ฿19.9K

-54.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Quetta: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.8 in Quetta versus $423 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 119% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $244 – 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 146% 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 $519 per month in Quetta and $1,279 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 $34.09 per month in Quetta and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 191% 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 $346 in Quetta and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $346 versus $852 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.