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

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $411 per month in Aba vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $662 per month in Aba vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $912 per month in Aba vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Aba is about 67% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Aba and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Aba 70% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 ₦10.2K

$8.68 ฿287

-11.52%

Cappuccino

$0.87 ₦1,159

$2.90 ฿95.8

-70.00%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₦2,740

$2.48 ฿82.0

-16.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₦3,187

$3.73 ฿123

-35.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 ₦5,035

$1.89 ฿62.3

101.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 ₦2,941

$1.41 ฿46.54

57.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 ₦15.3K

$19.84 ฿656

-41.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.34 ₦1,771

$11.37 ฿376

-88.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 ₦7,199

$2.90 ฿95.8

87.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 ₦738

$1.72 ฿57.0

-67.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₦4,696

$1.47 ฿48.72

140.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₦1,492

$1.10 ฿36.25

2.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₦204

$0.60 ฿19.76

-75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₦2,060

$4.31 ฿142

-64.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 ₦9,630

$18.60 ฿615

-60.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,691

$1.80 ฿59.5

-28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,861

$2.97 ฿98.0

-52.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.35 ₦12.4K

$23.49 ฿776

-60.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

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

$6,033 ₦8.0M

$27.8K ฿918.0K

-78.29%

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

$7,467 ₦9.9M

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-72.33%

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

$117 ₦154.5K

$105 ฿3,462

11.21%

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

$2.22 ₦2,944

$11.39 ฿376

-80.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.54 ₦60.4K

$17.54 ฿580

159.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$2.13 ₦2,827

$7.78 ฿257

-72.62%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,073 ₦1.4M

$11.6K ฿382.7K

-90.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 ₦20.3K

$96.2 ฿3,179

-84.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.73 ₦24.8K

$90.0 ฿2,974

-79.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 ₦183.5K

$733 ฿24.2K

-81.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₦603.8K

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-78.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₦299.0K

$1,252 ฿41.4K

-81.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,077 ₦1.4M

$3,534 ฿116.8K

-69.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$474 ₦628.6K

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-81.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.0 ₦131.2K

$508 ฿16.8K

-80.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

115.44%

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

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Aba versus $733 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 413% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 208%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $617 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.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 151% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, 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.