😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,800 in Coquitlam versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,925 in Coquitlam versus $2,054 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,050 in Coquitlam versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Coquitlam is roughly 127% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Coquitlam is 105% above, Phuket is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.79CA$23.34
$4.41฿146
280.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2CA$99.0
$32.26฿1,071
120.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89CA$15.13
$8.93฿297
21.95%
Cappuccino
$4.07CA$5.66
$2.90฿96.1
40.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17CA$3.02
$0.88฿29.22
146.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.37
$0.48฿15.97
254.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.71CA$7.94
$2.35฿78.1
142.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55CA$9.11
$3.72฿124
76.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43CA$1.98
$1.87฿61.9
-23.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70CA$3.75
$1.47฿48.68
83.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78CA$3.87
$1.55฿51.5
79.35%
Eggs
$3.79CA$5.27
$2.10฿69.8
80.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.19CA$14.17
$19.59฿650
-47.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.55CA$18.83
$3.42฿114
296.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.57CA$28.60
$11.38฿378
80.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.19CA$5.83
$2.98฿99.1
40.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39CA$1.93
$1.68฿55.9
-17.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.40
$2.21฿73.3
76.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13CA$5.74
$2.16฿71.8
91.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61CA$2.23
$1.52฿50.6
5.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.80CA$3.89
$1.34฿44.43
108.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.66
$1.13฿37.47
133.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11CA$1.55
$0.55฿18.14
101.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.52CA$21.58
$4.26฿142
264.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.21CA$16.97
$19.09฿634
-36.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66CA$3.70
$1.78฿59.1
49.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98CA$4.14
$2.78฿92.4
7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21CA$3.07
$2.23฿74.0
-0.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.2CA$103
$22.74฿755
226.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73CA$3.80
$3.03฿101
-9.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36CA$1.89
$1.02฿33.96
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.02CA$34.78
$3.89฿129
543.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27CA$1.77
$1.49฿49.50
-14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KCA$36.6K
$26.6K฿882.5K
-0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KCA$27.3K
$27.0K฿897.4K
-27.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.3CA$109
$102฿3,402
-23.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.42CA$49.23
$11.33฿376
212.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.71CA$69.1
$17.40฿578
185.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.64CA$30.08
$52.1฿1,729
-58.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.61CA$14.75
$11.07฿368
-4.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.97CA$15.25
$7.69฿255
42.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,102CA$1,532
$561฿18.6K
96.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KCA$16.8K
$11.5K฿382.0K
5.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3CA$79.7
$63.0฿2,093
-9.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.45CA$47.89
$29.52฿980
16.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1CA$122
$98.0฿3,254
-10.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3CA$127
$88.5฿2,938
3.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,998CA$2,778
$738฿24.5K
170.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,746CA$2,427
$482฿16.0K
261.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,662CA$5,090
$2,107฿69.9K
73.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,658CA$3,695
$1,226฿40.7K
116.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,267CA$8,712
$3,617฿120.1K
73.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,020CA$6,979
$2,603฿86.4K
92.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,057CA$4,250
$494฿16.4K
519.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.21
5.57
-24.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquitlam: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,998 in Coquitlam and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coquitlam pays 519% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Coquitlam vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $274 per month, with Phuket 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
Coquitlam vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Coquitlam?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coquitlam or Phuket?
Average pay runs 519% higher in Coquitlam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Coquitlam and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,998 in Coquitlam versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Coquitlam and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,800 per month in Coquitlam versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 226% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Coquitlam or in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,800 in Coquitlam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Coquitlam. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Coquitlam or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coquitlam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Coquitlam or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Coquitlam 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.