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: $2,652 in Campbell River versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,823 in Campbell River versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,993 in Campbell River versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Campbell River is roughly 112% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Campbell River is 99% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12 CA$25.50
$4.55 ฿153
298.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 CA$103
$46.18 ฿1,553
59.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 CA$15.65
$8.84 ฿297
25.79%
Cappuccino
$4.03 CA$5.68
$3.06 ฿103
31.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 CA$3.36
$0.73 ฿24.40
226.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 CA$1.57
$0.40 ฿13.39
177.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 CA$7.06
$2.43 ฿81.8
106.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 CA$8.57
$3.78 ฿127
61.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.10 CA$4.37
$2.26 ฿76.0
37.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 CA$4.47
$1.81 ฿60.9
75.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.09 CA$7.16
$2.25 ฿75.8
126.22%
Eggs
$4.50 CA$6.33
$2.25 ฿75.5
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.35 CA$11.75
$19.51 ฿656
-57.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.14 CA$14.27
$3.65 ฿123
177.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.30 CA$21.53
$13.05 ฿439
17.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.55
$3.23 ฿109
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 CA$2.24
$1.62 ฿54.4
-1.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.23
$2.38 ฿80.1
56.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 CA$5.09
$2.03 ฿68.1
77.83%
Potato (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.49
$1.53 ฿51.6
154.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 CA$4.22
$1.50 ฿50.5
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 CA$3.91
$0.98 ฿32.91
183.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.71
$0.52 ฿17.39
405.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.45 CA$21.74
$4.44 ฿149
247.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.54 CA$24.67
$18.32 ฿616
-4.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.81 CA$5.36
$1.86 ฿62.7
104.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 CA$6.31
$2.68 ฿90.1
67.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.44 CA$2.02
$1.41 ฿47.46
2.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.0 CA$88.6
$11.70 ฿393
438.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 CA$3.94
$3.11 ฿105
-9.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.04 ฿35.06
32.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.90 CA$46.30
$14.11 ฿474
133.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$1.31 ฿44.10
2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$35.4K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-9.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$29.9K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-36.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.7 CA$78.3
$122 ฿4,118
-54.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 CA$74.8
$13.59 ฿457
291.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 CA$101
$18.70 ฿629
284.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.74 CA$68.6
$60.5 ฿2,034
-19.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿571
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.11 CA$15.63
$9.07 ฿305
22.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$646 CA$909
$706 ฿23.8K
-8.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K CA$20.1K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-9.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.01 CA$63.3
$58.6 ฿1,969
-23.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.24 CA$62.3
$35.36 ฿1,189
25.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.2 CA$106
$115 ฿3,883
-34.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1 CA$132
$83.7 ฿2,816
12.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 CA$2,254
$626 ฿21.0K
156.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 CA$2,108
$445 ฿15.0K
236.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,521 CA$3,547
$2,040 ฿68.6K
23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,297 CA$3,232
$1,492 ฿50.2K
53.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campbell River
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,277 CA$3,204
$500 ฿16.8K
355.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
5.33
19.70%

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

Last update for Campbell River: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,602 in Campbell River and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Campbell River pays 355% 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: $74.0 in Campbell River vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $289 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 112% 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 355% 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: $1,602 in Campbell River versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Campbell River compared to Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 438% less than in Campbell River. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Campbell River and in Phuket?
Childcare runs $646 in Campbell River versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Campbell River or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,652 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 $1,250 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 112% 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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