Cost of Living Comparison Between Choloma and PhuketCost 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: Choloma49% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66HNL 151
$4.56฿150
24.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.07HNL 988
$46.63฿1,533
-20.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.47HNL 199
$8.47฿278
-11.81%
Cappuccino
$2.39HNL 63.6
$3.03฿99.5
-21.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96HNL 25.59
$0.69฿22.65
39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14HNL 30.33
$0.37฿12.03
208.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17HNL 31.20
$2.49฿81.8
-53.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68HNL 71.3
$3.66฿120
-26.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40HNL 37.38
$2.18฿71.7
-35.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14HNL 57.1
$1.90฿62.5
12.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27HNL 33.88
$2.20฿72.3
-42.27%
Eggs
$2.13HNL 56.8
$2.22฿73.1
-4.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.13HNL 164
$19.99฿657
-69.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76HNL 100
$3.66฿120
2.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86HNL 209
$13.25฿436
-40.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85HNL 76.0
$3.23฿106
-11.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50HNL 39.89
$1.70฿55.8
-11.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51HNL 40.38
$2.39฿78.7
-36.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56HNL 41.59
$2.08฿68.3
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60HNL 42.67
$1.59฿52.3
0.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40HNL 37.44
$1.48฿48.76
-5.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88HNL 23.55
$1.03฿33.85
-14.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64HNL 43.70
$0.52฿16.99
215.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44HNL 65.2
$4.25฿140
-42.59%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.79฿618
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36HNL 36.15
$1.76฿57.8
-22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86HNL 49.45
$2.76฿90.6
-32.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61HNL 16.33
$1.36฿44.73
-55.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿374
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35HNL 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)
$1.02HNL 27.21
$1.34฿44.20
-23.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KHNL 502.4K
$27.7K฿909.7K
-31.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KHNL 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)
$81.5HNL 2,173
$124฿4,062
-34.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.88HNL 237
$13.52฿444
-34.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20HNL 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
$5.85HNL 156
$9.14฿300
-36.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252HNL 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)
$45.63HNL 1,216
$59.5฿1,955
-23.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64HNL 950
$35.07฿1,153
1.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111HNL 2,949
$115฿3,789
-4.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102HNL 2,727
$84.1฿2,763
21.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Choloma
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$109HNL 2,900
$619฿20.3K
-82.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.4HNL 2,649
$433฿14.2K
-77.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343HNL 9,145
$2,062฿67.8K
-83.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$297HNL 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.