🙂A single person spends $348 per month in Quetta vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $548 per month in Quetta vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $747 per month in Quetta vs $1,857 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 – Quetta74% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 962
$1.96฿64.0
76.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.48PKR 2,922
$18.81฿615
-44.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.53PKR 1,264
$7.92฿259
-42.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 503
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55PKR 433
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66PKR 463
$1.91฿62.6
-13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46PKR 128
$0.84฿27.41
-45.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.7
$0.35฿11.51
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿72.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.80฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68PKR 190
$1.64฿53.5
-58.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44PKR 122
$1.62฿53.1
-72.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03PKR 288
$1.18฿38.62
-12.71%
Eggs
$1.13PKR 314
$2.01฿65.8
-43.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,723
$15.89฿520
-61.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59PKR 721
$3.01฿98.5
-13.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.21PKR 1,174
$10.77฿352
-60.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$2.61฿85.5
-60.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$1.22฿39.88
-57.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$1.70฿55.7
-67.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 143
$1.58฿51.5
-67.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 87.0
$1.32฿43.14
-76.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 140
$1.17฿38.23
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.1
$0.67฿21.98
-47.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 90.4
$0.56฿18.32
-42.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.45PKR 403
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 94.1
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10PKR 585
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69PKR 193
$4.53฿148
-84.77%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿595
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿60.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.3
$0.89฿29.00
-79.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.42PKR 1,512
$19.38฿634
-72.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37PKR 102
$1.35฿44.20
-72.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 182
$1.35฿44.05
-51.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 507
$8.25฿270
-77.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$1.27฿41.64
-24.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
$21.2K฿691.8K
-0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.4KPKR 3.5M
$22.5K฿735.3K
-44.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.8PKR 15.0K
$70.2฿2,294
-23.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.39PKR 1,781
$13.77฿450
-53.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.35PKR 4,001
$17.60฿575
-18.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$4.99PKR 1,390
$41.57฿1,360
-88.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00PKR 1,673
$6.60฿216
-9.09%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80PKR 780
$5.78฿189
-51.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.87PKR 9,721
$306฿10.0K
-88.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$426PKR 118.6K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-97.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,013
$54.4฿1,778
-86.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.20PKR 2,007
$26.14฿855
-72.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5PKR 24.4K
$84.5฿2,764
3.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.40PKR 8,196
$69.4฿2,270
-57.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$71.0PKR 19.8K
$424฿13.9K
-83.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.89PKR 13.6K
$238฿7,788
-79.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160PKR 44.5K
$825฿27.0K
-80.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.4PKR 27.4K
$515฿16.8K
-80.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$384PKR 107.0K
$2,049฿67.0K
-81.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$221PKR 61.6K
$1,523฿49.8K
-85.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216PKR 60.2K
$635฿20.8K
-66.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Quetta: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $71.0 in Quetta versus $424 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 194% 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 $10.00 in Quetta versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $243 – making Quetta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Quetta vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Quetta or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 145% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Quetta vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $522 per month in Quetta and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quetta or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Quetta and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $34.87 per month in Quetta and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Quetta or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 188% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Quetta or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $348 in Quetta and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quetta or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quetta costs $348 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quetta compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Quetta or Chiang Mai?
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.