Cost of Living Comparison Between Byumba and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Byumba and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $413 per month in Byumba vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $646 per month in Byumba vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $880 per month in Byumba vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Byumba is about 67% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Byumba and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Byumba 70% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.32 RWF 3,408
$4.56 ฿150
-49.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.63 RWF 40.5K
$32.62 ฿1,073
-15.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 RWF 9,791
$8.90 ฿293
-24.94%
Cappuccino
$2.34 RWF 3,432
$2.80 ฿92.2
-16.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 RWF 1,136
$0.88 ฿28.94
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 RWF 794
$0.49 ฿16.08
10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 RWF 1,533
$2.39 ฿78.5
-56.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 RWF 3,847
$3.71 ฿122
-29.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 RWF 1,080
$1.79 ฿58.8
-58.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 RWF 1,513
$1.44 ฿47.40
-28.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 RWF 1,926
$1.58 ฿52.1
-17.09%
Eggs
$1.61 RWF 2,355
$2.13 ฿69.9
-24.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.29 RWF 6,296
$19.92 ฿655
-78.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.43 RWF 6,499
$3.43 ฿113
29.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.24 RWF 6,209
$11.33 ฿372
-62.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 RWF 3,570
$2.95 ฿97.0
-17.63%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 RWF 1,219
$1.72 ฿56.6
-51.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 RWF 2,254
$2.32 ฿76.5
-33.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 RWF 1,456
$2.08 ฿68.4
-52.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 RWF 738
$1.47 ฿48.34
-65.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 RWF 1,060
$1.36 ฿44.65
-47.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 RWF 1,001
$1.10 ฿36.13
-38.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RWF 1,178
$0.57 ฿18.89
40.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 RWF 2,969
$4.27 ฿140
-52.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.26 RWF 15.0K
$18.42 ฿606
-44.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 RWF 1,317
$1.87 ฿61.5
-51.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 RWF 2,345
$2.92 ฿96.1
-45.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.22 ฿73.0
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.90 ฿753
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 RWF 4,070
$3.03 ฿99.6
-8.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 RWF 2,918
$1.07 ฿35.32
85.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 RWF 5,007
$3.93 ฿129
-12.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 RWF 2,624
$1.49 ฿49.06
20.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K RWF 38.3M
$27.1K ฿892.0K
-3.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K RWF 44.1M
$27.5K ฿902.6K
9.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.2 RWF 124.9K
$103 ฿3,380
-17.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.12 RWF 10.4K
$10.99 ฿361
-35.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.95 RWF 30.7K
$17.51 ฿576
19.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$53.5 ฿1,760
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20 ฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.39 RWF 4,969
$7.48 ฿246
-54.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$114 RWF 167.8K
$557 ฿18.3K
-79.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,675 RWF 9.8M
$11.9K ฿389.7K
-43.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.30 RWF 25.4K
$64.1 ฿2,107
-73.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.37 RWF 22.5K
$29.07 ฿956
-47.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$22.50 RWF 33.0K
$96.0 ฿3,155
-76.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.35 RWF 48.9K
$90.3 ฿2,970
-63.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$730 ฿24.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$500 ฿16.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,209 ฿39.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byumba
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.2
5.57
190.84%

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

Last update for Byumba: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Byumba versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $273 – making Byumba 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
Byumba vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Byumba or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 204% more than Byumba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Byumba and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $619 per month in Byumba and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Byumba and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Byumba and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Byumba or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 83% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Byumba or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Byumba, where all-in costs run around $413, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Byumba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Byumba or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Byumba costs $413 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Byumba compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Byumba or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Byumba. 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.

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