Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $348 in Quetta versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $548 in Quetta versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $747 in Quetta versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Quetta costs roughly 72% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta74% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 963
$4.63฿151
-25.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.48PKR 2,926
$46.84฿1,523
-77.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.53PKR 1,265
$8.84฿287
-48.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 504
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55PKR 434
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66PKR 464
$3.00฿97.4
-44.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46PKR 128
$0.74฿24.11
-37.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.8
$0.37฿11.88
-45.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44฿79.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61฿117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68PKR 191
$2.26฿73.5
-69.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44PKR 122
$1.84฿59.8
-76.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03PKR 289
$2.24฿73.0
-54.02%
Eggs
$1.13PKR 315
$2.32฿75.3
-51.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,726
$19.67฿639
-68.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59PKR 722
$3.65฿119
-29.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.21PKR 1,176
$13.10฿426
-67.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$3.39฿110
-69.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$1.64฿53.4
-68.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.56PKR 157
$2.41฿78.5
-76.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 144
$2.03฿66.0
-74.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$1.56฿50.6
-80.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 140
$1.50฿48.66
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.3
$1.02฿33.30
-65.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 90.5
$0.49฿15.91
-34.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.45PKR 404
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 94.2
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10PKR 586
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69PKR 193
$4.45฿145
-84.49%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88฿614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿57.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75฿89.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.4
$1.40฿45.54
-87.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.42PKR 1,514
$11.48฿373
-52.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37PKR 102
$3.12฿101
-88.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 183
$1.00฿32.48
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 507
$14.09฿458
-87.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$1.35฿43.93
-28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
$27.2K฿883.7K
-22.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.4KPKR 3.5M
$32.9K฿1.1M
-62.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.8PKR 15.0K
$125฿4,063
-56.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.39PKR 1,784
$13.57฿441
-52.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.35PKR 4,006
$18.52฿602
-22.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$4.99PKR 1,392
$61.5฿1,999
-91.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00PKR 1,675
$16.84฿547
-64.37%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80PKR 781
$9.19฿299
-69.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.87PKR 9,734
$698฿22.7K
-95.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$426PKR 118.8K
$15.6K฿506.9K
-97.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,016
$57.8฿1,878
-87.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.20PKR 2,010
$35.24฿1,146
-79.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5PKR 24.4K
$113฿3,677
-22.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.40PKR 8,206
$86.4฿2,808
-65.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$71.0PKR 19.8K
$616฿20.0K
-88.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.89PKR 13.6K
$446฿14.5K
-89.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160PKR 44.5K
$2,048฿66.6K
-92.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.4PKR 27.5K
$1,492฿48.5K
-93.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$384PKR 107.1K
$3,779฿122.8K
-89.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$221PKR 61.7K
$2,649฿86.1K
-91.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216PKR 60.3K
$524฿17.0K
-58.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5.33
125.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.0 in Quetta and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 143% 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: $10.00 in Quetta vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $292 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
Quetta vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Quetta?
Quetta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 254% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quetta or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 143% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Quetta and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $71.0 in Quetta versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $34.87 in Quetta versus $698 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 Quetta and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 246% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Quetta or Phuket?
At $348 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 Quetta or Phuket 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, Quetta or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Quetta 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 Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 254% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.