Cost of Living Comparison Between Campbell River and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Campbell River and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,420 in Campbell River versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,529 in Campbell River versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,637 in Campbell River versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Campbell River is roughly 97% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Campbell River is 77% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.04 CA$25.23
$4.41 ฿147
309.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.7 CA$100
$32.26 ฿1,077
122.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.35
$8.93 ฿298
22.84%
Cappuccino
$4.25 CA$5.95
$2.90 ฿96.6
46.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 CA$3.37
$0.88 ฿29.38
173.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 CA$1.38
$0.48 ฿16.06
106.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 CA$8.22
$2.35 ฿78.5
149.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.46 CA$9.04
$3.72 ฿124
73.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.04 CA$4.25
$1.87 ฿62.3
62.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 CA$4.35
$1.47 ฿48.94
111.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.66
$1.55 ฿51.8
160.65%
Eggs
$4.34 CA$6.07
$2.10 ฿70.1
106.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.50 CA$11.89
$19.59 ฿654
-56.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 CA$13.53
$3.42 ฿114
183.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.98 CA$20.96
$11.38 ฿380
31.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.57
$2.98 ฿99.6
9.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 CA$1.97
$1.68 ฿56.2
-16.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.11
$2.21 ฿73.7
65.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.13
$2.16 ฿72.1
69.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.86
$1.52 ฿50.9
128.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 CA$4.01
$1.34 ฿44.67
114.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.30 CA$4.61
$1.13 ฿37.67
192.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 CA$3.50
$0.55 ฿18.24
354.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.33 CA$21.44
$4.26 ฿142
259.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.34 CA$25.65
$19.09 ฿637
-3.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.96 CA$5.54
$1.78 ฿59.4
122.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 CA$4.98
$2.78 ฿92.9
28.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 CA$2.07
$2.23 ฿74.4
-33.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿759
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 CA$3.95
$3.03 ฿101
-6.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 CA$2.19
$1.02 ฿34.15
53.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.18 CA$47.81
$3.89 ฿130
778.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 CA$1.77
$1.49 ฿49.77
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K CA$40.5K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
8.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K CA$25.8K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
-31.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.6 CA$76.3
$102 ฿3,420
-46.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.22 CA$63.3
$11.33 ฿378
299.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.6 CA$89.0
$17.40 ฿581
265.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.06 CA$64.4
$52.1 ฿1,738
-11.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.89 CA$15.24
$7.69 ฿257
41.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 CA$1,283
$561 ฿18.7K
63.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K CA$32.2K
$11.5K ฿384.1K
99.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.89 CA$61.4
$63.0 ฿2,104
-30.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.17 CA$63.2
$29.52 ฿986
53.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.5 CA$103
$98.0 ฿3,272
-25.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 CA$127
$88.5 ฿2,954
2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 CA$2,073
$738 ฿24.6K
100.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 CA$1,950
$482 ฿16.1K
188.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,190 CA$3,064
$2,107 ฿70.3K
3.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,199 CA$3,077
$1,226 ฿40.9K
79.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,299 CA$3,217
$494 ฿16.5K
365.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.32
5.57
-22.44%

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

Last update for Campbell River: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,482 in Campbell River and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Campbell River pays 366% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $72.0 in Campbell River vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $274 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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
Campbell River vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Campbell River or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Campbell River. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Campbell River or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 366% higher in Campbell River, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Campbell River compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,482 in Campbell River versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Campbell River or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Campbell River. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Campbell River compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,420 per month in Campbell River versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Campbell River or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,420 in Campbell River, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Campbell River. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Campbell River or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Campbell River compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Campbell River and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Campbell River. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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