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: $420 in Quetta versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in Quetta versus $2,054 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $814 in Quetta versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Quetta costs roughly 66% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta69% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70PKR 1,026
$4.41฿147
-16.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78PKR 2,987
$32.26฿1,077
-66.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.53PKR 1,255
$8.93฿298
-49.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 502
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27PKR 1,460
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.59PKR 442
$2.90฿96.6
-45.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 107
$0.88฿29.38
-55.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 54.4
$0.48฿16.06
-58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.35฿78.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69PKR 192
$1.87฿62.3
-63.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 155
$1.47฿48.94
-61.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 341
$1.55฿51.8
-20.65%
Eggs
$1.22PKR 337
$2.10฿70.1
-41.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.93PKR 1,366
$19.59฿654
-74.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83PKR 785
$3.42฿114
-17.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.12PKR 1,419
$11.38฿380
-55.01%
Apples(1kg)
$0.93PKR 258
$2.98฿99.6
-68.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.57PKR 159
$1.68฿56.2
-66.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69PKR 190
$2.21฿73.7
-68.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55PKR 153
$2.16฿72.1
-74.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.30PKR 82.0
$1.52฿50.9
-80.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56PKR 156
$1.34฿44.67
-58.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43PKR 118
$1.13฿37.67
-61.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 108
$0.55฿18.24
-29.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.75PKR 485
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08PKR 300
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84PKR 788
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09PKR 579
$4.26฿142
-50.94%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.09฿637
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿59.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78฿92.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.13PKR 36.35
$2.23฿74.4
-94.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.27PKR 2,845
$22.74฿759
-54.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04PKR 288
$3.03฿101
-65.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43PKR 120
$1.02฿34.15
-57.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.78PKR 493
$3.89฿130
-54.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07PKR 296
$1.49฿49.77
-28.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
$26.6K฿887.3K
-9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KPKR 6.7M
$27.0K฿902.2K
-10.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103PKR 28.5K
$102฿3,420
0.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.11PKR 2,246
$11.33฿378
-28.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.41PKR 4,547
$17.40฿581
-5.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.78PKR 1,602
$52.1฿1,738
-88.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.33PKR 923
$7.69฿257
-56.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.78PKR 9,635
$561฿18.7K
-93.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$995PKR 275.5K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-91.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.08PKR 2,237
$63.0฿2,104
-87.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.81PKR 6,318
$29.52฿986
-22.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8PKR 19.6K
$98.0฿3,272
-27.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.10PKR 9,446
$88.5฿2,954
-61.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$71.4PKR 19.8K
$738฿24.6K
-90.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.66PKR 13.8K
$482฿16.1K
-89.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 45.8K
$2,107฿70.3K
-92.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.5PKR 27.6K
$1,226฿40.9K
-91.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$376PKR 104.3K
$3,617฿120.7K
-89.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$219PKR 60.6K
$2,603฿86.9K
-91.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$274PKR 75.9K
$494฿16.5K
-44.50%
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 Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.4 in Quetta and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 80% 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 $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $89.0 vs $274 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, Getting Around. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quetta or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 80% 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: $71.4 in Quetta versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $34.78 in Quetta versus $561 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 209% 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 $420 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 193% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.