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: $352 in Quetta versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $550 in Quetta versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $748 in Quetta versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Quetta costs roughly 72% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quetta 74% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 PKR 960
$4.56 ฿149
-24.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.69 PKR 2,972
$46.63 ฿1,519
-77.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.40 PKR 1,223
$8.47 ฿276
-48.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 PKR 500
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 PKR 435
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.62 PKR 449
$3.03 ฿98.6
-46.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 PKR 118
$0.69 ฿22.45
-39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 61.2
$0.37 ฿11.92
-40.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.49 ฿81.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 PKR 207
$2.18 ฿71.0
-66.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 PKR 129
$1.90 ฿62.0
-75.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 298
$2.20 ฿71.6
-51.36%
Eggs
$1.08 PKR 299
$2.22 ฿72.4
-51.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.94 PKR 1,652
$19.99 ฿651
-70.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.49 PKR 691
$3.66 ฿119
-31.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.24 PKR 1,178
$13.25 ฿432
-68.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 PKR 298
$3.23 ฿105
-66.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 155
$1.70 ฿55.3
-67.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 158
$2.39 ฿78.0
-76.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 145
$2.08 ฿67.7
-75.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.29 PKR 80.6
$1.59 ฿51.8
-81.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 PKR 139
$1.48 ฿48.31
-66.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$1.03 ฿33.54
-66.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 PKR 83.3
$0.52 ฿16.83
-42.31%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.42 PKR 395
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 101
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 PKR 598
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.72 PKR 201
$4.25 ฿138
-83.06%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.79 ฿612
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76 ฿57.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.76 ฿89.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 49.40
$1.36 ฿44.32
-86.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.36 PKR 1,491
$11.36 ฿370
-52.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 PKR 92.5
$3.14 ฿102
-89.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 PKR 180
$1.04 ฿33.74
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.72 PKR 479
$13.77 ฿448
-87.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PKR 266
$1.34 ฿43.79
-28.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.0M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-22.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.3K PKR 3.4M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-63.79%
🧾 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
$124 ฿4,025
-57.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.38 PKR 1,774
$13.52 ฿440
-52.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.98 PKR 3,887
$18.69 ฿609
-25.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.09 PKR 1,415
$61.8 ฿2,013
-91.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81 PKR 1,614
$17.25 ฿562
-66.32%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89 PKR 804
$9.14 ฿298
-68.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$35.09 PKR 9,756
$703 ฿22.9K
-95.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$424 PKR 117.8K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-97.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22 PKR 2,006
$59.5 ฿1,937
-87.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.98 PKR 1,941
$35.07 ฿1,142
-80.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 PKR 24.9K
$115 ฿3,754
-22.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19 PKR 8,116
$84.1 ฿2,737
-65.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$69.9 PKR 19.4K
$619 ฿20.1K
-88.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.4 PKR 14.0K
$433 ฿14.1K
-88.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$157 PKR 43.7K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-92.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.5 PKR 26.6K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-93.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$381 PKR 106.0K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-89.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$220 PKR 61.3K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-91.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$213 PKR 59.3K
$507 ฿16.5K
-57.96%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.9 in Quetta and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 138% 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 $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $293 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 259% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quetta or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 138% 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: $69.9 in Quetta versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $35.09 in Quetta versus $703 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 248% 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 $352 in Quetta versus $1,261 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 259% 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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