Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $839 per month in Avarua vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Avarua vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,885 per month in Avarua vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Avarua is about 34% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Avarua and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Avarua 37% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 NZ$102

$45.37 ฿1,491

30.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.23 NZ$15.90

$8.43 ฿277

9.49%

Cappuccino

$3.67 NZ$6.33

$2.93 ฿96.3

25.26%

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

$2.64 NZ$4.54

$0.69 ฿22.54

282.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 NZ$4.20

$0.37 ฿12.07

556.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 NZ$10.38

$2.41 ฿79.2

150.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 NZ$8.50

$3.72 ฿122

32.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 NZ$3.16

$2.23 ฿73.4

-17.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 NZ$5.96

$1.83 ฿60.2

89.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 NZ$3.16

$2.17 ฿71.3

-15.67%

Eggs

$5.16 NZ$8.89

$2.21 ฿72.8

133.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 NZ$20.75

$19.74 ฿649

-39.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 NZ$14.65

$3.63 ฿119

134.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.67 NZ$18.38

$13.53 ฿445

-21.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 NZ$5.32

$3.28 ฿108

-5.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 NZ$3.14

$1.61 ฿53.0

13.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 NZ$6.39

$2.41 ฿79.2

53.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.64 NZ$16.60

$2.08 ฿68.5

363.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 NZ$5.26

$1.53 ฿50.3

99.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 NZ$4.06

$1.48 ฿48.67

59.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 NZ$4.13

$0.99 ฿32.50

142.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 NZ$5.23

$0.51 ฿16.78

494.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 NZ$25.95

$19.38 ฿637

-22.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 NZ$7.73

$2.71 ฿89.1

65.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿45.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿375

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿99.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿463

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.79

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

$28.2K ฿927.0K

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)

$123 NZ$212

$122 ฿4,000

0.89%

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

$13.57 ฿446

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿602

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,979

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿563

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿286

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

$693 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿515.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 NZ$117

$59.5 ฿1,957

14.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,143

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,767

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 NZ$130

$83.3 ฿2,738

-9.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 NZ$271

$613 ฿20.2K

-74.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 NZ$266

$437 ฿14.4K

-64.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 NZ$296

$2,094 ฿68.8K

-91.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 NZ$397

$1,509 ฿49.6K

-84.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,020 NZ$8,648

$3,749 ฿123.2K

33.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 NZ$1,265

$2,616 ฿86.0K

-71.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.7K

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 Avarua: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Avarua 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Avarua versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $293 – making Phuket 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

Avarua vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 51% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,258 per month in Avarua 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 Avarua, 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 $839 in Avarua and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $839 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Avarua. 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.