😐A single person spends $1,827 per month in Caboolture vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,614 per month in Caboolture vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,401 per month in Caboolture vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Caboolture costs about 44% 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
$10.48A$14.60
$4.70฿153
122.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.75A$63.8
$45.37฿1,482
0.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.61A$13.39
$8.43฿275
14.00%
Cappuccino
$2.97A$4.14
$2.93฿95.6
1.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62A$2.26
$0.69฿22.40
134.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66A$2.31
$0.37฿11.99
348.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.33A$8.82
$2.41฿78.6
162.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01A$11.16
$3.72฿122
115.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16A$1.62
$2.23฿72.9
-47.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05A$2.86
$1.83฿59.8
12.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23A$3.10
$2.17฿70.8
2.76%
Eggs
$4.03A$5.62
$2.21฿72.3
82.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.19A$10.02
$19.74฿645
-63.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91A$11.03
$3.63฿119
117.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.36A$15.84
$13.53฿442
-16.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07A$4.27
$3.28฿107
-6.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49A$3.47
$1.61฿52.6
54.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55A$4.94
$2.41฿78.6
47.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81A$5.31
$2.08฿68.1
83.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08A$2.90
$1.53฿49.93
35.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82A$2.53
$1.48฿48.36
22.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98A$2.75
$0.99฿32.29
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84A$1.17
$0.51฿16.67
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.79A$35.94
$4.41฿144
484.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.41A$20.08
$19.38฿633
-25.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72A$5.19
$1.78฿58.1
108.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.63A$9.24
$2.71฿88.6
144.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94A$4.10
$1.37฿44.79
114.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.0A$73.9
$11.39฿372
365.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.01A$2.80
$3.02฿98.6
-33.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19A$1.66
$0.99฿32.48
20.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.43A$43.79
$14.10฿461
122.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15A$1.60
$1.36฿44.51
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KA$28.5K
$28.2K฿921.1K
-27.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KA$27.5K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-40.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$211A$294
$122฿3,975
73.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04A$15.38
$13.57฿443
-18.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.36A$56.3
$18.31฿598
120.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.68A$37.18
$60.2฿1,967
-55.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.33A$36.70
$17.14฿560
53.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.12A$18.28
$8.69฿284
50.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,263A$1,760
$693฿22.6K
82.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,968A$5,529
$15.7K฿512.3K
-74.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.10A$43.34
$59.5฿1,944
-47.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.43A$66.1
$34.77฿1,136
36.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4A$120
$115฿3,743
-24.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.2A$95.1
$83.3฿2,720
-18.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$955A$1,331
$613฿20.0K
55.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$814A$1,134
$437฿14.3K
86.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492A$2,079
$2,094฿68.4K
-28.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,347A$1,877
$1,509฿49.3K
-10.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,449A$8,987
$3,749฿122.5K
72.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,273A$7,348
$2,616฿85.4K
101.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,849A$2,577
$508฿16.6K
263.94%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $955 in Caboolture 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.
💰Salaries run about 264% 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 $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 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
Caboolture vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Caboolture or Phuket?
Caboolture costs about 44% 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 vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,741 per month in Caboolture and $1,898 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 Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $1,263 per month in Caboolture and $693 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 Phuket?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Caboolture at $1,827. 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 $1,265 versus $1,827 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 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.
Caboolture vs other spots: cost of living compared