Cost of Living Comparison Between Choloma and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Choloma and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Choloma versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Choloma versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Choloma versus $3,291 in Phuket.

Living in Choloma costs roughly 45% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Choloma 48% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.78 HNL 155
$4.53 ฿153
27.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.84 HNL 1,012
$46.36 ฿1,567
-18.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 HNL 209
$8.65 ฿292
-9.60%
Cappuccino
$2.35 HNL 62.8
$3.09 ฿104
-23.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 HNL 25.63
$0.68 ฿22.93
41.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 HNL 30.45
$0.37 ฿12.46
208.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 HNL 30.45
$2.42 ฿81.7
-52.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 HNL 70.9
$3.81 ฿129
-30.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 HNL 37.16
$2.18 ฿73.6
-36.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 HNL 56.0
$1.82 ฿61.4
14.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 HNL 33.02
$2.18 ฿73.6
-43.58%
Eggs
$2.04 HNL 54.6
$2.24 ฿75.6
-8.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.14 HNL 164
$19.93 ฿674
-69.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 HNL 100
$3.64 ฿123
2.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.16 HNL 218
$13.56 ฿459
-39.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 HNL 76.7
$3.29 ฿111
-12.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 HNL 40.08
$1.69 ฿57.0
-11.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 HNL 39.21
$2.33 ฿78.9
-36.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 HNL 40.41
$2.03 ฿68.5
-25.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 HNL 42.59
$1.60 ฿54.1
-0.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 HNL 35.97
$1.49 ฿50.5
-9.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 HNL 22.70
$1.01 ฿34.23
-15.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 HNL 44.00
$0.48 ฿16.12
243.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 HNL 65.3
$4.45 ฿150
-45.17%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.63 ฿630
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 HNL 35.77
$1.79 ฿60.4
-25.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 HNL 49.08
$2.80 ฿94.5
-34.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 HNL 15.36
$1.42 ฿47.99
-59.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.33 ฿383
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.31 HNL 115
$3.09 ฿105
39.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 ฿35.25
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$13.63 ฿461
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 HNL 27.36
$1.31 ฿44.31
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K HNL 509.7K
$27.3K ฿922.3K
-30.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K HNL 522.3K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-41.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.8 HNL 2,241
$123 ฿4,164
-31.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.09 HNL 243
$13.81 ฿467
-34.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.29 HNL 1,104
$18.52 ฿626
122.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.4 ฿2,041
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80 ฿568
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.73 HNL 153
$8.89 ฿301
-35.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 HNL 6,735
$687 ฿23.2K
-63.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.6K ฿525.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.43 HNL 1,215
$57.6 ฿1,949
-21.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.56 HNL 978
$34.66 ฿1,172
5.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 HNL 2,916
$115 ฿3,885
-5.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 HNL 2,787
$84.9 ฿2,871
22.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$108 HNL 2,896
$618 ฿20.9K
-82.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.3 HNL 2,656
$443 ฿15.0K
-77.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 HNL 9,348
$2,047 ฿69.2K
-82.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 HNL 7,941
$1,506 ฿50.9K
-80.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,568 ฿120.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,511 ฿84.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5.33
125.14%

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

Last update for Choloma: July 22, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $108 in Choloma and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Choloma vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $292 per month, with Choloma 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
Choloma vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Choloma?
Choloma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,049 in Choloma and $1,891 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Choloma and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $108 in Choloma versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Choloma and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Choloma and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $699 per month in Choloma versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Choloma or in Phuket?
At $699 in Choloma versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Choloma but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Choloma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Choloma or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Choloma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Choloma or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Choloma 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Choloma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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