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: $680 in Choloma versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in Choloma versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,603 in Choloma versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Choloma costs roughly 46% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Choloma 49% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66 HNL 151
$4.56 ฿150
24.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.07 HNL 988
$46.63 ฿1,533
-20.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.47 HNL 199
$8.47 ฿278
-11.81%
Cappuccino
$2.39 HNL 63.6
$3.03 ฿99.5
-21.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 HNL 25.59
$0.69 ฿22.65
39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 HNL 30.33
$0.37 ฿12.03
208.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 HNL 31.20
$2.49 ฿81.8
-53.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 HNL 71.3
$3.66 ฿120
-26.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 HNL 37.38
$2.18 ฿71.7
-35.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 HNL 57.1
$1.90 ฿62.5
12.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 HNL 33.88
$2.20 ฿72.3
-42.27%
Eggs
$2.13 HNL 56.8
$2.22 ฿73.1
-4.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.13 HNL 164
$19.99 ฿657
-69.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.76 HNL 100
$3.66 ฿120
2.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.86 HNL 209
$13.25 ฿436
-40.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 HNL 76.0
$3.23 ฿106
-11.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 HNL 39.89
$1.70 ฿55.8
-11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 HNL 40.38
$2.39 ฿78.7
-36.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 HNL 41.59
$2.08 ฿68.3
-25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 HNL 42.67
$1.59 ฿52.3
0.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 HNL 37.44
$1.48 ฿48.76
-5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 HNL 23.55
$1.03 ฿33.85
-14.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 HNL 43.70
$0.52 ฿16.99
215.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 HNL 65.2
$4.25 ฿140
-42.59%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.79 ฿618
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 HNL 36.15
$1.76 ฿57.8
-22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 HNL 49.45
$2.76 ฿90.6
-32.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 HNL 16.33
$1.36 ฿44.73
-55.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿374
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.35 HNL 116
$3.14 ฿103
38.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 ฿34.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$13.77 ฿452
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 HNL 27.21
$1.34 ฿44.20
-23.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K HNL 502.4K
$27.7K ฿909.7K
-31.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K HNL 507.1K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-43.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 HNL 2,173
$124 ฿4,062
-34.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.88 HNL 237
$13.52 ฿444
-34.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20 HNL 1,098
$18.69 ฿614
120.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.8 ฿2,032
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿567
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.85 HNL 156
$9.14 ฿300
-36.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 HNL 6,722
$703 ฿23.1K
-64.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.9K ฿521.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.63 HNL 1,216
$59.5 ฿1,955
-23.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64 HNL 950
$35.07 ฿1,153
1.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 HNL 2,949
$115 ฿3,789
-4.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 HNL 2,727
$84.1 ฿2,763
21.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$109 HNL 2,900
$619 ฿20.3K
-82.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.4 HNL 2,649
$433 ฿14.2K
-77.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 HNL 9,145
$2,062 ฿67.8K
-83.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 HNL 7,912
$1,511 ฿49.7K
-80.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿119.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿86.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$507 ฿16.7K
-
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $109 in Choloma and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Choloma vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $293 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 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,019 in Choloma and $1,892 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: $109 in Choloma versus $619 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 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 vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $680 per month in Choloma versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Choloma or Phuket?
At $680 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 86% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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