🙂A single person spends $406 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $645 per month in Fort Portal vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $884 per month in Fort Portal vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Fort Portal is about 68% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Fort Portal and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Fort Portal70% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74UGX 10.3K
$4.56฿149
-39.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.82UGX 100.5K
$46.63฿1,519
-42.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73UGX 32.7K
$8.47฿276
3.07%
Cappuccino
$2.85UGX 10.7K
$3.03฿98.6
-5.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51UGX 1,893
$0.69฿22.45
-26.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31UGX 1,165
$0.37฿11.92
-16.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35UGX 5,064
$2.49฿81.0
-45.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83UGX 10.6K
$3.66฿119
-22.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.34UGX 1,289
$2.18฿71.0
-84.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86UGX 3,240
$1.90฿62.0
-54.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14UGX 4,258
$2.20฿71.6
-48.18%
Eggs
$1.42UGX 5,309
$2.22฿72.4
-36.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.44UGX 16.6K
$19.99฿651
-77.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.03UGX 18.8K
$3.66฿119
37.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.51UGX 13.2K
$13.25฿432
-73.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68UGX 10.1K
$3.23฿105
-17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81UGX 3,051
$1.70฿55.3
-52.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66UGX 6,216
$2.39฿78.0
-30.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36UGX 5,095
$2.08฿67.7
-34.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57UGX 5,902
$1.59฿51.8
-1.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72UGX 2,692
$1.48฿48.31
-51.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03UGX 3,854
$1.03฿33.54
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55UGX 2,046
$0.52฿16.83
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97UGX 11.1K
$4.25฿138
-30.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.21UGX 19.5K
$18.79฿612
-72.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84UGX 3,150
$1.76฿57.2
-52.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09UGX 4,092
$2.76฿89.8
-60.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.36฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54UGX 2,033
$3.14฿102
-82.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28UGX 1,059
$1.04฿33.74
-73.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.24UGX 15.9K
$13.77฿448
-69.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37UGX 5,145
$1.34฿43.79
2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,009UGX 33.8M
$27.7K฿901.4K
-67.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,914UGX 33.4M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-73.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.82UGX 160.5K
$124฿4,025
-65.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.37UGX 53.8K
$13.52฿440
6.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.08UGX 165.2K
$18.69฿609
135.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.8฿2,013
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.23UGX 23.3K
$9.14฿298
-31.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158UGX 592.9K
$703฿22.9K
-77.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,290UGX 16.1M
$15.9K฿517.0K
-72.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.76UGX 62.8K
$59.5฿1,937
-71.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.42UGX 54.1K
$35.07฿1,142
-58.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.49UGX 144.3K
$115฿3,754
-66.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.26UGX 177.1K
$84.1฿2,737
-43.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$619฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$433฿14.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,062฿67.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,511฿49.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,646฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,626฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Portal
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$507฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.8
5.33
290.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Portal: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Fort Portal versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $293 – 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 211% 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 vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $609 per month in Fort Portal and $1,892 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 vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Fort Portal and $47.00 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 Phuket?
Groceries cost about 114% 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 Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Fort Portal, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $1,261 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 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.
Fort Portal vs other spots: cost of living compared