Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $691 per month in Chengdu vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,088 per month in Chengdu vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,484 per month in Chengdu vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Chengdu is about 45% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chengdu and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Chengdu 48% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 ¥19.14

$4.48 ฿150

-36.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.43 ¥158

$45.59 ฿1,522

-48.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 ¥33.34

$8.76 ฿292

-43.61%

Cappuccino

$2.79 ¥18.84

$2.97 ฿99.1

-6.06%

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

$0.43 ¥2.93

$0.69 ฿22.92

-37.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$0.39 ฿13.05

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.67

$2.53 ฿84.5

-54.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥14.22

$3.75 ฿125

-43.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥12.10

$2.15 ฿71.6

-16.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.77

$1.82 ฿60.6

-20.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.17

$2.18 ฿73.0

-58.26%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.96

$2.25 ฿75.1

-14.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 ¥91.8

$20.00 ฿668

-31.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ¥24.63

$3.63 ฿121

0.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 ¥77.0

$13.56 ฿453

-15.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.39

$3.24 ฿108

-43.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.29

$1.64 ฿54.6

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ¥9.71

$2.33 ฿77.9

-38.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.18

$2.07 ฿69.2

-48.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.80

$1.55 ฿51.7

-54.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.73

$1.46 ฿48.58

-52.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ¥4.02

$0.98 ฿32.88

-38.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.48 ฿16.11

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ¥22.91

$4.35 ฿145

-21.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.44 ¥36.69

$18.57 ฿620

-70.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.36

$1.86 ฿62.0

-49.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$2.65 ฿88.7

-29.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.92

$1.42 ฿47.32

-69.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 ¥188

$11.57 ฿386

140.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ¥8.24

$3.17 ฿106

-61.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$1.03 ฿34.45

-72.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥28.84

$13.89 ฿464

-69.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.55

$1.34 ฿44.88

-16.42%

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

$18.7K ¥125.9K

$27.8K ฿927.9K

-32.86%

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

$16.7K ¥112.4K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-50.10%

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

$44.08 ¥297

$123 ฿4,109

-64.18%

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

$11.44 ¥77.2

$13.77 ฿460

-16.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 ¥78.2

$18.33 ฿612

-36.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.88 ¥161

$60.7 ฿2,026

-60.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.59 ¥78.2

$17.16 ฿573

-32.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.43 ¥36.63

$8.87 ฿296

-38.78%

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

$342 ¥2,308

$688 ฿23.0K

-50.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K ¥82.9K

$15.8K ฿526.9K

-22.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.64 ¥247

$59.3 ฿1,980

-38.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.88 ¥262

$34.69 ฿1,158

12.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 ¥448

$115 ฿3,846

-42.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 ¥347

$83.8 ฿2,797

-38.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 ¥2,093

$621 ฿20.7K

-50.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ¥1,215

$446 ฿14.9K

-59.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 ¥4,122

$2,034 ฿67.9K

-69.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ¥2,185

$1,496 ฿50.0K

-78.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 ¥25.6K

$3,455 ฿115.4K

9.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 ¥12.9K

$2,531 ฿84.5K

-24.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,258 ¥8,484

$494 ฿16.5K

154.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

5.33

-21.01%

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

Last update for Chengdu: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Chengdu versus $621 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 155% higher in Chengdu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Chengdu versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $291 – making Chengdu 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

Chengdu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $691 in Chengdu, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 83% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,037 per month in Chengdu and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Chengdu and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $691 in Chengdu and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chengdu, where all-in costs run around $691, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Chengdu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $691 in Chengdu to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.