Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Portal and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Portal and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $635 per month in Fort Portal vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $864 per month in Fort Portal vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Fort Portal is about 67% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fort Portal and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Fort Portal 70% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67 UGX 10.5K
$4.41 ฿147
-39.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.03 UGX 102.5K
$32.26 ฿1,074
-19.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 UGX 30.7K
$8.93 ฿297
-12.54%
Cappuccino
$2.64 UGX 10.4K
$2.90 ฿96.4
-8.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 UGX 1,538
$0.88 ฿29.30
-55.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 UGX 1,098
$0.48 ฿16.01
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 UGX 5,251
$2.35 ฿78.3
-43.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 UGX 7,346
$3.72 ฿124
-49.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.31 UGX 1,208
$1.87 ฿62.1
-83.42%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 UGX 2,990
$1.47 ฿48.81
-48.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 UGX 4,253
$1.55 ฿51.7
-30.32%
Eggs
$1.28 UGX 5,043
$2.10 ฿70.0
-39.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.66 UGX 18.4K
$19.59 ฿652
-76.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 UGX 19.9K
$3.42 ฿114
47.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.39 UGX 13.4K
$11.38 ฿379
-70.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 UGX 8,520
$2.98 ฿99.3
-27.52%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 UGX 2,998
$1.68 ฿56.1
-54.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 UGX 5,485
$2.21 ฿73.5
-37.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 UGX 5,043
$2.16 ฿72.0
-40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 UGX 5,190
$1.52 ฿50.8
-13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 UGX 2,686
$1.34 ฿44.55
-49.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 UGX 3,308
$1.13 ฿37.57
-25.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 UGX 2,027
$0.55 ฿18.19
-7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 UGX 10.4K
$4.26 ฿142
-38.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.45 UGX 21.5K
$19.09 ฿635
-71.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 UGX 3,052
$1.78 ฿59.2
-56.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 UGX 4,097
$2.78 ฿92.6
-62.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.23 ฿74.2
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 UGX 2,187
$3.03 ฿101
-81.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 UGX 1,341
$1.02 ฿34.06
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 UGX 12.7K
$3.89 ฿130
-16.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 UGX 5,325
$1.49 ฿49.63
-9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,827 UGX 30.8M
$26.6K ฿884.9K
-70.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,091 UGX 31.9M
$27.0K ฿899.8K
-70.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.9 UGX 298.9K
$102 ฿3,411
-25.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.40 UGX 48.8K
$11.33 ฿377
9.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.36 UGX 147.1K
$17.40 ฿579
114.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,734
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿369
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 UGX 31.9K
$7.69 ฿256
5.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 UGX 1.0M
$561 ฿18.7K
-53.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,692 UGX 34.2M
$11.5K ฿383.0K
-24.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.15 UGX 59.6K
$63.0 ฿2,098
-75.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.11 UGX 55.6K
$29.52 ฿983
-52.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.19 UGX 134.6K
$98.0 ฿3,263
-65.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.35 UGX 182.5K
$88.5 ฿2,946
-47.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$738 ฿24.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,107 ฿70.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.75
5.57
272.53%

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

Last update for Fort Portal: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Fort Portal versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $129 vs $274 – making Fort Portal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Fort Portal vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Portal or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 203% more than Fort Portal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fort Portal and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $609 per month in Fort Portal and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Fort Portal and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Fort Portal and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Fort Portal or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 113% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Fort Portal or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Fort Portal, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Fort Portal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Portal or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fort Portal costs $406 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Fort Portal compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Fort Portal or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Fort Portal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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