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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Avarua vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Avarua vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Avarua vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

Avarua is about 33% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Avarua and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Avarua 37% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 NZ$100

$46.44 ฿1,496

27.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 NZ$14.88

$8.68 ฿280

1.38%

Cappuccino

$3.52 NZ$5.95

$2.95 ฿95.0

19.32%

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

$2.63 NZ$4.44

$0.70 ฿22.52

275.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 NZ$4.00

$0.39 ฿12.70

507.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 NZ$9.66

$2.53 ฿81.6

126.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 NZ$8.27

$3.78 ฿122

29.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 NZ$3.08

$2.22 ฿71.5

-18.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 NZ$6.05

$1.80 ฿57.8

98.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 NZ$3.13

$2.19 ฿70.4

-15.53%

Eggs

$5.00 NZ$8.46

$2.31 ฿74.5

116.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 NZ$20.23

$19.34 ฿623

-38.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 NZ$14.21

$3.77 ฿121

123.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 NZ$18.57

$13.22 ฿426

-16.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 NZ$5.19

$3.33 ฿107

-7.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 NZ$3.00

$1.65 ฿53.1

7.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 NZ$6.27

$2.29 ฿73.7

62.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.64 NZ$16.29

$1.99 ฿64.1

384.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.17

$1.53 ฿49.24

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 NZ$3.95

$1.51 ฿48.77

54.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 NZ$3.98

$1.03 ฿33.12

129.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 NZ$5.05

$0.51 ฿16.57

486.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$14.69 NZ$24.82

$19.41 ฿625

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 NZ$7.55

$2.68 ฿86.4

66.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ฿46.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿97.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.68 ฿441

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿41.85

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

$27.9K ฿898.9K

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

$33.0K ฿1.1M

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

$119 NZ$201

$123 ฿3,962

-3.36%

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

$13.82 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.86 ฿608

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 ฿1,970

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿286

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

$696 ฿22.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿517.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 NZ$116

$59.3 ฿1,910

15.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ฿1,123

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,646

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 NZ$127

$85.1 ฿2,740

-11.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 NZ$263

$615 ฿19.8K

-74.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 NZ$266

$448 ฿14.4K

-64.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 NZ$295

$2,085 ฿67.2K

-91.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 NZ$387

$1,496 ฿48.2K

-84.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,988 NZ$8,429

$3,734 ฿120.3K

33.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 NZ$1,285

$2,662 ฿85.8K

-71.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$534 ฿17.2K

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Avarua versus $615 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 in Avarua versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $291 – 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 49% 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 $1,275 per month in Avarua and $1,904 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 $850 in Avarua and $1,270 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 $850, than in Phuket at $1,270. 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 $850 versus $1,270 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.