Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Changwon versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,811 in Changwon versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,461 in Changwon versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Changwon costs roughly 6% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changwon 15% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 ₩10.4K

$4.41 ฿147

71.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.46 ₩37.8K

$32.26 ฿1,077

-14.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ₩7,243

$8.93 ฿298

-41.10%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₩5,142

$2.90 ฿96.6

28.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₩2,523

$0.88 ฿29.38

107.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₩1,362

$0.48 ฿16.06

106.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 ₩4,040

$2.35 ฿78.5

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 ₩5,756

$3.72 ฿124

12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 ₩3,192

$1.87 ฿62.3

24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 ₩4,409

$1.47 ฿48.94

117.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 ₩4,306

$1.55 ฿51.8

101.29%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,581

$2.10 ฿70.1

23.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩15.2K

$19.59 ฿654

-43.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.5K

$3.42 ฿114

207.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.57 ₩33.9K

$11.38 ฿380

115.91%

Apples (1kg)

$11.16 ₩15.4K

$2.98 ฿99.6

274.50%

Banana (1kg)

$3.65 ₩5,035

$1.68 ฿56.2

117.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.18 ₩11.3K

$2.21 ฿73.7

270.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ₩8,305

$2.16 ฿72.1

179.17%

Potato (1kg)

$6.09 ₩8,392

$1.52 ฿50.9

300.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₩4,601

$1.34 ฿44.67

149.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 ₩3,875

$1.13 ฿37.67

148.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,763

$0.55 ฿18.24

132.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ₩4,677

$4.26 ฿142

-20.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.50 ₩25.5K

$19.09 ฿637

-3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₩3,211

$1.78 ฿59.4

30.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₩4,645

$2.78 ฿92.9

21.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 ₩3,977

$3.03 ฿101

-4.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₩1,070

$1.02 ฿34.15

-23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.72 ₩23.0K

$3.89 ฿130

329.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₩1,906

$1.49 ฿49.77

-7.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K ₩40.5M

$26.6K ฿887.3K

10.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.6K ₩46.3M

$27.0K ฿902.2K

24.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$200 ₩275.9K

$102 ฿3,420

95.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.60 ₩50.4K

$11.33 ฿378

223.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 ₩37.1K

$17.40 ฿581

54.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.7 ₩72.7K

$52.1 ฿1,738

1.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩15.1K

$7.69 ฿257

42.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$643 ₩886.1K

$561 ฿18.7K

14.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K ₩30.4M

$11.5K ฿384.1K

92.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩145.8K

$63.0 ฿2,104

67.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.8 ₩90.7K

$29.52 ฿986

123.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 ₩130.3K

$98.0 ฿3,272

-3.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₩175.2K

$88.5 ฿2,954

43.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,700 ₩2.3M

$494 ฿16.5K

244.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.57

-24.24%

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

Last update for Changwon: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Changwon pays 244% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Changwon vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $485 vs $274, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.

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

Changwon vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon and Phuket differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,161 vs $1,232 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 244% higher in Changwon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 77% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,161 per month in Changwon versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,161 in Changwon versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Changwon 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.

Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.