Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $513 per month in Aba vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $744 per month in Aba vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $975 per month in Aba vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Aba is about 59% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aba and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Aba 62% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 ₦7,213

$4.70 ฿153

12.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 ₦14.3K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-76.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₦7,084

$8.43 ฿275

-38.32%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦514

$0.69 ฿22.40

-44.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₦368

$0.37 ฿11.99

-27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,391

$2.41 ฿78.6

-57.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,743

$3.72 ฿122

-65.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 ₦2,788

$1.83 ฿59.8

12.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,596

$2.17 ฿70.8

89.40%

Eggs

$2.44 ₦3,321

$2.21 ฿72.3

10.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.50 ₦2,049

$19.74 ฿645

-92.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,222

$3.63 ฿119

46.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 ₦552

$2.41 ฿78.6

-82.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₦690

$2.08 ฿68.1

-75.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ₦1,749

$1.53 ฿49.93

-16.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 ₦743

$1.48 ฿48.36

-62.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 ₦1,620

$4.41 ฿144

-73.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.36 ₦10.0K

$19.38 ฿633

-62.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₦743

$1.37 ฿44.79

-59.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 ₦688

$3.02 ฿98.6

-83.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₦657

$0.99 ฿32.48

-51.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₦2,856

$14.10 ฿461

-85.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 ₦925

$1.36 ฿44.51

-50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.78 ₦17.4K

$60.2 ฿1,967

-78.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 ₦8,801

$17.14 ฿560

-62.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$92.0 ₦125.3K

$693 ฿22.6K

-86.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.13 ₦28.8K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-64.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.60 ₦21.3K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-55.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₦706.7K

$613 ฿20.0K

-15.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₦428.2K

$437 ฿14.3K

-28.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 ₦1.1M

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-62.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 ₦638.1K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-68.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.1 ₦129.5K

$508 ฿16.6K

-81.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Aba versus $613 in Phuket. 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 434% higher in Phuket, 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 Aba versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $293 – making Aba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Aba vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 146%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $770 per month in Aba and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $513 in Aba and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Aba and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.