Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Caboolture and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $1,934 in Caboolture, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Caboolture
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,934
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Caboolture and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Caboolture and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,934 per month in Caboolture vs $1,208 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caboolture $1,934
  • Phuket $1,208

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Caboolture vs $2,027 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caboolture $2,804
  • Phuket $2,027

A family of three spends $3,675 per month in Caboolture vs $2,845 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caboolture $3,675
  • Phuket $2,845

Caboolture costs about 60% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Caboolture sits 43% above the global median, while Phuket is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 A$15.80
$4.40 ฿147
149.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.03 A$70.6
$32.26 ฿1,078
51.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 A$15.21
$8.76 ฿293
20.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76 A$3.97
$2.83 ฿94.5
-2.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 A$2.53
$0.90 ฿30.14
95.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 A$2.15
$0.47 ฿15.56
217.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.00 A$10.08
$2.55 ฿85.2
174.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 A$11.26
$3.83 ฿128
104.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 A$1.80
$1.73 ฿57.7
-27.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 A$2.99
$1.47 ฿49.11
41.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 A$2.86
$1.51 ฿50.6
31.79%
Eggs
$4.16 A$5.98
$2.17 ฿72.7
91.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 A$12.38
$19.70 ฿658
-56.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.11 A$13.11
$3.34 ฿112
172.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 A$17.34
$11.16 ฿373
7.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 A$4.45
$2.85 ฿95.1
8.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 A$3.60
$1.70 ฿56.9
47.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 A$4.93
$2.19 ฿73.3
56.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 A$6.03
$2.05 ฿68.4
104.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 A$2.75
$1.45 ฿48.57
31.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 A$2.62
$1.38 ฿46.16
31.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 A$2.97
$1.07 ฿35.69
92.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 A$1.32
$0.51 ฿16.91
80.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$28.93 A$41.62
$4.26 ฿142
579.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.14 A$20.35
$18.58 ฿621
-23.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.99 A$5.74
$1.78 ฿59.7
124.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 A$9.76
$2.85 ฿95.2
137.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 A$2.28
$2.26 ฿75.6
-29.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.4 A$114
$22.10 ฿738
259.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 A$3.14
$3.01 ฿101
-27.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 A$1.57
$1.06 ฿35.34
2.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.30 A$47.92
$3.86 ฿129
762.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 A$1.86
$1.45 ฿48.45
-11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K A$35.3K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-6.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K A$35.7K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 A$256
$96.4 ฿3,221
84.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.74 A$16.89
$11.04 ฿369
6.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.65 A$70.0
$17.14 ฿573
183.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.87 A$32.91
$52.2 ฿1,744
-56.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.61 A$25.34
$11.16 ฿373
57.80%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85 A$19.93
$7.81 ฿261
77.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,731 A$2,491
$556 ฿18.6K
211.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,196 A$6,038
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-63.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.97 A$48.88
$64.2 ฿2,146
-47.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 A$76.1
$28.69 ฿959
84.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.6 A$140
$95.4 ฿3,187
2.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 A$107
$88.0 ฿2,940
-15.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 A$1,558
$737 ฿24.6K
46.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$898 A$1,292
$462 ฿15.5K
94.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,521 A$2,189
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-27.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,463 A$2,105
$1,201 ฿40.1K
21.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,831 A$8,391
$3,488 ฿116.6K
67.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,025 A$7,230
$2,523 ฿84.3K
99.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caboolture
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,845 A$2,656
$501 ฿16.7K
268.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.69
5.57
2.15%

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

Last update for Caboolture: October 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Caboolture
$898
Phuket
$462 48.5% $435
Groceries & Markets
Caboolture
$321
Phuket
$269 16.3% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caboolture
$238
Phuket
$125 47.7% $114
Eating Out
Caboolture
$216
Phuket
$121 44% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Caboolture
$116
Phuket
$124 6.8% $7.9
Getting Around
Caboolture
$93
Phuket
$39 57.8% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Caboolture
$51
Phuket
$68 34.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,083 in Caboolture versus $737 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 269% 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 $49.00 in Caboolture versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $269 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Caboolture
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
01:03 1:03 AM
22:03 10:03 PM
3 h behind Caboolture
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,534
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Caboolture Phuket 7,040 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Caboolture
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 60% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $2,901 per month in Caboolture and $1,813 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 $1,731 per month in Caboolture and $556 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 19% 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 $1,208, than in Caboolture at $1,934. 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 $1,208 versus $1,934 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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