πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,949 in Coquitlam versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,123 in Coquitlam versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,297 in Coquitlam versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Coquitlam is roughly 133% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Coquitlam is 120% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.48CA$20.14
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
208.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3CA$71.3
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
12.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39CA$14.45
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
23.25%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.14
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
25.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CA$2.74
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
185.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.92
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
467.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.22CA$7.26
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
116.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80CA$8.06
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
55.91%
π Groceries & Markets
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44CA$2.00
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-35.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99CA$4.16
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
63.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25CA$3.13
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
3.69%
Eggs
$3.98CA$5.53
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
80.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51CA$14.62
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-46.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.30CA$22.67
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
349.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44CA$20.08
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
6.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.55CA$6.32
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
38.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43CA$1.99
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
-11.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.08CA$7.07
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
110.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.56CA$6.35
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
119.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60CA$2.23
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
4.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77CA$2.46
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
19.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.98CA$4.14
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
201.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09CA$1.51
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
113.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11CA$19.62
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
219.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.43CA$17.29
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-35.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.90CA$5.42
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
119.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34CA$3.26
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-13.65%
π Getting Around
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.25
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
70.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9CA$108
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
583.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76CA$3.84
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-8.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57CA$2.19
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
58.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.93CA$34.67
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
76.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37CA$1.90
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KCA$34.1K
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
-13.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.9K
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-38.95%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132CA$184
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.68CA$51.0
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
170.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9CA$84.7
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
232.77%
π Sport & Entertainment
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.85CA$38.73
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-53.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.15CA$15.50
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-34.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.20CA$15.58
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
28.88%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,230CA$1,710
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
77.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4KCA$17.2K
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-21.10%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7CA$98.3
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
18.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66CA$63.5
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
31.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1CA$132
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
-17.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115CA$159
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
37.47%
π Accommodation & Living
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,055CA$2,859
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
235.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,817CA$2,527
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
315.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,665CA$5,097
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
75.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,680CA$3,727
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
77.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,103CA$8,487
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
62.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,152CA$7,165
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
96.96%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Coquitlam
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,140CA$4,367
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
517.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
5.33
24.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquitlam: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,055 in Coquitlam and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Coquitlam pays 518% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $51.0 in Coquitlam vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $293 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coquitlam or Phuket?
Coquitlam pays 518% more on average, 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: $2,055 in Coquitlam versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Coquitlam vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,949 per month in Coquitlam versus $1,265 in Phuket β a 133% 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 583% 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 Coquitlam or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,949 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 β expenses run 133% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.