Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $346 in Quetta versus $1,264 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $537 in Quetta versus $2,256 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $728 in Quetta versus $3,248 in Phuket.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 73% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta 74% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 PKR 977
$4.48 ฿150
-21.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63 PKR 2,950
$45.59 ฿1,522
-76.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.38 PKR 1,216
$8.76 ฿292
-50.00%
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
$2.97 ฿99.1
-42.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 117
$0.69 ฿22.92
-39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 55.4
$0.39 ฿13.05
-48.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.53 ฿84.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.75 ฿125
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 PKR 206
$2.15 ฿71.6
-65.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 PKR 128
$1.82 ฿60.6
-74.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 285
$2.18 ฿73.0
-52.75%
Eggs
$1.12 PKR 310
$2.25 ฿75.1
-50.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.92 PKR 1,644
$20.00 ฿668
-70.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 PKR 716
$3.63 ฿121
-28.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.12 PKR 1,143
$13.56 ฿453
-69.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 289
$3.24 ฿108
-67.90%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 154
$1.64 ฿54.6
-66.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 157
$2.33 ฿77.9
-75.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 133
$2.07 ฿69.2
-76.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.2
$1.55 ฿51.7
-80.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 132
$1.46 ฿48.58
-67.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 PKR 98.5
$0.98 ฿32.88
-64.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 90.1
$0.48 ฿16.11
-33.33%
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
$4.35 ฿145
-84.14%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.57 ฿620
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.65 ฿88.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.93
$1.42 ฿47.32
-88.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.23 PKR 1,453
$11.57 ฿386
-54.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.36 PKR 101
$3.17 ฿106
-88.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 PKR 171
$1.03 ฿34.45
-39.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 PKR 481
$13.89 ฿464
-87.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 PKR 268
$1.34 ฿44.88
-27.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PKR 6.0M
$27.8K ฿927.9K
-22.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.1K PKR 3.4M
$33.4K ฿1.1M
-63.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 PKR 14.6K
$123 ฿4,109
-57.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41 PKR 1,778
$13.77 ฿460
-53.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.32 PKR 3,975
$18.33 ฿612
-21.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$4.96 PKR 1,378
$60.7 ฿2,026
-91.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76 PKR 1,600
$17.16 ฿573
-66.43%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90 PKR 805
$8.87 ฿296
-67.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.09 PKR 9,461
$688 ฿23.0K
-95.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$417 PKR 115.7K
$15.8K ฿526.9K
-97.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$6.98 PKR 1,937
$59.3 ฿1,980
-88.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.24 PKR 2,010
$34.69 ฿1,158
-79.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 PKR 24.2K
$115 ฿3,846
-24.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.59 PKR 8,213
$83.8 ฿2,797
-64.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$69.8 PKR 19.4K
$621 ฿20.7K
-88.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$49.30 PKR 13.7K
$446 ฿14.9K
-88.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$159 PKR 44.1K
$2,034 ฿67.9K
-92.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.5 PKR 26.8K
$1,496 ฿50.0K
-93.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$376 PKR 104.2K
$3,455 ฿115.4K
-89.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$214 PKR 59.3K
$2,531 ฿84.5K
-91.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$271 PKR 75.3K
$494 ฿16.5K
-45.07%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.8 in Quetta and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 82% 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: $11.00 in Quetta vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $291 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 265% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quetta or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Phuket. 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: $69.8 in Quetta versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $34.09 in Quetta versus $688 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 in 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 living in Quetta or in Phuket?
At $346 in Quetta versus $1,264 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 265% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Quetta vs other spots: cost of living compared

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