Cost of Living Comparison Between Caboolture and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Caboolture and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,811 per month in Caboolture vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,662 per month in Caboolture vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,513 per month in Caboolture vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Caboolture costs about 45% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Caboolture sits 36% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.38 A$14.87
$4.55 ฿153
128.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.03 A$66.0
$46.18 ฿1,554
-0.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.97 A$14.28
$8.84 ฿298
12.78%
Cappuccino
$2.90 A$4.16
$3.06 ฿103
-5.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 A$2.43
$0.73 ฿24.42
132.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 A$2.36
$0.40 ฿13.40
312.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.34 A$9.08
$2.43 ฿81.8
160.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 A$10.96
$3.78 ฿127
102.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.72
$2.26 ฿76.0
-46.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 A$2.96
$1.81 ฿60.9
13.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 A$3.03
$2.25 ฿75.8
-5.78%
Eggs
$4.08 A$5.84
$2.25 ฿75.6
81.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 A$10.77
$19.51 ฿656
-61.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.17 A$11.70
$3.65 ฿123
123.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 A$16.44
$13.05 ฿439
-12.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 A$4.39
$3.23 ฿109
-5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.56
$1.62 ฿54.4
53.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.66 A$5.24
$2.38 ฿80.2
53.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 A$5.58
$2.03 ฿68.2
92.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 A$3.04
$1.53 ฿51.6
39.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 A$2.53
$1.50 ฿50.5
17.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 A$2.75
$0.98 ฿32.93
95.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 A$1.16
$0.52 ฿17.40
55.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.48 A$37.93
$4.44 ฿149
496.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.93 A$19.96
$18.32 ฿616
-23.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 A$5.07
$1.86 ฿62.7
90.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.70 A$9.60
$2.68 ฿90.2
150.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 A$4.17
$1.41 ฿47.49
106.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.5 A$75.3
$11.70 ฿394
348.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 A$2.94
$3.11 ฿105
-33.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 A$1.70
$1.04 ฿35.08
14.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.53 A$45.17
$14.11 ฿475
123.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.66
$1.31 ฿44.13
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K A$30.1K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-24.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K A$28.2K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-40.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 A$291
$122 ฿4,120
65.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.05 A$15.82
$13.59 ฿457
-18.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.61 A$58.2
$18.70 ฿629
117.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.72 A$38.29
$60.5 ฿2,035
-55.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.60 A$36.67
$16.98 ฿572
50.77%
Cinema Ticket
$13.09 A$18.76
$9.07 ฿305
44.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,280 A$1,834
$706 ฿23.8K
81.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,893 A$5,578
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-75.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.82 A$44.16
$58.6 ฿1,970
-47.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.18 A$67.6
$35.36 ฿1,190
33.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 A$124
$115 ฿3,885
-24.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9 A$98.7
$83.7 ฿2,818
-17.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$960 A$1,375
$626 ฿21.1K
53.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$819 A$1,173
$445 ฿15.0K
83.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 A$2,123
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-27.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 A$1,958
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-8.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,042 A$10.1K
$3,483 ฿117.2K
102.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,769 A$8,266
$2,577 ฿86.7K
123.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,794 A$2,570
$500 ฿16.8K
258.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
5.33
11.07%

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

Last update for Caboolture: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $960 in Caboolture versus $626 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 259% higher in Caboolture, 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 $46.00 in Caboolture versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $306 in Caboolture vs $289 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Caboolture vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Caboolture or Phuket?
Caboolture costs about 45% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Caboolture and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,716 per month in Caboolture and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Caboolture or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Caboolture and in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $1,280 per month in Caboolture and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Caboolture or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Caboolture, 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 $1,500/month in Caboolture or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Caboolture at $1,811. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caboolture it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Caboolture or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $1,811 in Caboolture. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Caboolture 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 Caboolture or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caboolture makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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