Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $1,190 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: China is 24.7% cheaper than Phuket without rent, and 34.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 23.4% cheaper than Phuket without rent, and 37.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ¥19.39
$4.35 ฿146
-33.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02 ¥147
$32.45 ฿1,087
-32.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥34.74
$8.42 ฿282
-38.24%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥20.31
$2.81 ฿94.0
8.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.45
$0.87 ฿29.29
-40.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.85
$0.46 ฿15.39
-39.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.75
$2.59 ฿86.6
-61.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥14.64
$3.64 ฿122
-39.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.71
$1.71 ฿57.2
2.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥10.96
$1.45 ฿48.42
13.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.12
$1.56 ฿52.3
-41.03%
Eggs
$1.59 ¥10.66
$2.10 ฿70.3
-24.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 ¥86.8
$19.53 ฿654
-33.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.38
$3.40 ฿114
-1.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.18 ¥74.7
$11.14 ฿373
0.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.02
$2.83 ฿94.8
-36.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ¥8.78
$1.62 ฿54.3
-19.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.80
$2.22 ฿74.5
-33.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ¥8.79
$2.15 ฿71.9
-38.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.07
$1.49 ฿49.95
-48.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.15
$1.33 ฿44.40
-30.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.94
$1.07 ฿35.72
-44.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.63
$0.51 ฿17.01
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 ¥25.34
$4.38 ฿147
-13.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 ¥81.1
$18.77 ฿629
-35.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.48
$1.74 ฿58.3
-52.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.92
$2.78 ฿92.9
-41.37%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$2.17 ฿72.6
-86.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.33 ¥149
$22.28 ฿746
0.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ¥10.24
$3.02 ฿101
-49.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.31
$1.06 ฿35.43
-66.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.00 ¥46.79
$3.71 ฿124
88.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$1.43 ฿47.88
-8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.1K
$26.3K ฿882.1K
-27.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥113.7K
$26.2K ฿877.3K
-35.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.1 ¥362
$96.7 ฿3,236
-44.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 ¥56.3
$11.41 ฿382
-26.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.72 ¥71.6
$17.11 ฿573
-37.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 ¥272
$52.8 ฿1,768
-22.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58 ¥97.4
$11.07 ฿371
31.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 ¥45.15
$7.65 ฿256
-11.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ¥3,089
$555 ฿18.6K
-16.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K ¥131.0K
$11.3K ฿377.7K
73.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 ¥305
$63.4 ฿2,123
-28.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 ¥241
$28.61 ฿958
26.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥504
$96.7 ฿3,238
-22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 ¥528
$88.6 ฿2,967
-10.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,577
$735 ฿24.6K
-47.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ¥1,601
$458 ฿15.3K
-47.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 ¥5,637
$2,102 ฿70.4K
-59.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥3,083
$1,187 ฿39.7K
-61.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,590 ¥30.7K
$3,493 ฿116.9K
31.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 ¥15.2K
$2,491 ฿83.4K
-8.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,082
$501 ฿16.8K
111.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
5.57
-37.88%

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

Last update for China: October 4, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$240
Phuket
$458 91.2% $218
Groceries & Markets
China
$207
Phuket
$268 29.4% $61
Clothing & Footwear
China
$106
Phuket
$125 17.5% $19
Eating Out
China
$88
Phuket
$119 35.7% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73
Phuket
$125 70.8% $52
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Phuket
$68 25.6% $14
Getting Around
China
$27
Phuket
$39 46.7% $13
Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
12:55 12:55 PM
11:55 11:55 AM
1 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Chinese Yuan CNY ¥
Thai Baht THB ฿
📈 Exchange rate
1 CNY = 0.15 USD
1 CNY = 0.133 EUR
100 THB = 2.99 USD
100 THB = 2.66 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.5 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • China Phuket 3,990 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • 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

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,199
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$481
/mo nomad
Show more

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