Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,934 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,647 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 3% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Fukuoka and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Fukuoka 11% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 ¥1,126

$4.66 ฿154

57.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.73 ¥6,715

$32.22 ฿1,065

35.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥897

$8.68 ฿287

-32.72%

Cappuccino

$3.44 ¥528

$2.90 ฿95.8

18.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ¥165

$0.84 ฿27.89

27.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥107

$0.49 ฿16.16

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 ¥600

$2.48 ฿82.0

57.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ¥343

$3.73 ฿123

-39.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥254

$1.89 ฿62.3

-12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥300

$1.41 ฿46.54

38.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 ¥1,002

$1.62 ฿53.6

302.47%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥347

$2.24 ฿74.1

0.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.52 ¥2,844

$19.84 ฿656

-6.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 ¥842

$3.48 ฿115

57.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.17 ¥2,943

$11.37 ฿376

68.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 ¥576

$2.90 ฿95.8

29.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ¥294

$1.72 ฿57.0

11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 ¥446

$2.27 ฿75.1

28.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ¥515

$2.13 ฿70.4

57.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ¥351

$1.47 ฿48.72

55.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ¥394

$1.42 ฿46.92

80.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ¥167

$1.10 ฿36.25

-0.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥151

$0.60 ฿19.76

63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ¥606

$4.31 ฿142

-8.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 ¥1,010

$18.60 ฿615

-64.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥258

$1.80 ฿59.5

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥286

$2.97 ฿98.0

-37.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥253

$2.25 ฿74.2

-26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.79 ¥6,571

$23.49 ฿776

82.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 ¥608

$3.10 ฿102

27.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 ¥327

$1.08 ฿35.56

97.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.49 ¥2,839

$3.87 ฿128

377.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ¥166

$1.43 ฿47.16

-24.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.0K ¥3.4M

$27.8K ฿918.0K

-20.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K ¥2.8M

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-32.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 ¥29.0K

$105 ฿3,462

80.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.84 ¥3,967

$11.39 ฿376

126.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ¥5,192

$17.54 ฿580

92.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥7,920

$54.3 ฿1,795

-5.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 ¥1,712

$7.78 ฿257

43.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$129 ¥19.9K

$576 ฿19.0K

-77.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ¥2.0M

$11.6K ฿382.7K

10.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.12 ¥5,393

$63.6 ฿2,103

-44.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 ¥3,773

$29.10 ฿961

-15.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 ¥8,884

$96.2 ฿3,179

-39.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.42 ¥7,435

$90.0 ฿2,974

-46.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ¥73.5K

$733 ฿24.2K

-34.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥40.9K

$501 ฿16.5K

-46.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 ¥176.8K

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-45.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥106.8K

$1,252 ฿41.4K

-44.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,769 ¥885.8K

$3,534 ฿116.8K

63.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,546 ¥391.0K

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-2.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,787 ¥428.0K

$508 ฿16.8K

449.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.54

5.57

-72.35%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: September 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Fukuoka versus $733 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 449% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Fukuoka versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $275 – making Phuket 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

Fukuoka vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,221 in Fukuoka, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 4% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,832 per month in Fukuoka and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Fukuoka and $576 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Fukuoka to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. 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.