Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Gongju and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,538 per month in Gongju vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,401 per month in Gongju vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,265 per month in Gongju vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Gongju costs about 25% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gongju sits 12% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 ₩10.1K

$4.41 ฿147

65.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.27 ₩66.9K

$32.26 ฿1,074

49.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 ₩9,325

$8.93 ฿297

-24.64%

Cappuccino

$3.57 ₩4,942

$2.90 ฿96.4

23.10%

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

$1.87 ₩2,587

$0.88 ฿29.30

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₩1,923

$0.48 ฿16.01

189.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₩5,201

$2.35 ฿78.3

59.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 ₩5,891

$3.72 ฿124

14.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₩3,244

$1.87 ฿62.1

25.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,345

$1.47 ฿48.81

112.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 ₩4,381

$1.55 ฿51.7

103.87%

Eggs

$2.68 ₩3,715

$2.10 ฿70.0

27.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 ₩15.3K

$19.59 ฿652

-43.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₩14.2K

$3.42 ฿114

199.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.59 ₩34.1K

$11.38 ฿379

116.08%

Apples (1kg)

$11.08 ₩15.4K

$2.98 ฿99.3

271.81%

Banana (1kg)

$3.61 ₩5,002

$1.68 ฿56.1

114.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.05 ₩11.1K

$2.21 ฿73.5

264.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.95 ₩8,247

$2.16 ฿72.0

175.46%

Potato (1kg)

$6.06 ₩8,399

$1.52 ฿50.8

298.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₩4,460

$1.34 ฿44.55

140.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 ₩3,827

$1.13 ฿37.57

144.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₩1,821

$0.55 ฿18.19

138.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₩4,593

$4.26 ฿142

-22.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.36 ₩25.5K

$19.09 ฿635

-3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₩3,403

$1.78 ฿59.2

38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 ₩4,735

$2.78 ฿92.6

23.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₩1,566

$2.23 ฿74.2

-49.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₩5,004

$3.03 ฿101

19.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₩1,007

$1.02 ฿34.06

-28.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩23.1K

$3.89 ฿130

329.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₩1,869

$1.49 ฿49.63

-9.40%

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

$28.8K ₩39.9M

$26.6K ฿884.9K

8.18%

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

$33.0K ₩45.7M

$27.0K ฿899.8K

22.01%

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

$203 ₩280.9K

$102 ฿3,411

97.82%

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

$36.61 ₩50.7K

$11.33 ฿377

223.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.85 ₩37.2K

$17.40 ฿579

54.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ₩77.5K

$52.1 ฿1,734

7.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.70 ₩16.2K

$11.07 ฿369

5.69%

Cinema Ticket

$11.70 ₩16.2K

$7.69 ฿256

52.15%

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

$633 ₩877.6K

$561 ฿18.7K

12.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K ₩30.2M

$11.5K ฿383.0K

89.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩143.7K

$63.0 ฿2,098

64.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 ₩88.7K

$29.52 ฿983

116.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ₩126.2K

$98.0 ฿3,263

-7.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩177.5K

$88.5 ฿2,946

44.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩618.5K

$738 ฿24.6K

-39.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₩490.6K

$482 ฿16.1K

-26.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,136 ₩1.6M

$2,107 ฿70.1K

-46.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₩995.3K

$1,226 ฿40.8K

-41.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,970 ₩9.7M

$3,617 ฿120.4K

92.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,431 ₩7.5M

$2,603 ฿86.7K

108.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,322 ₩1.8M

$494 ฿16.4K

167.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.57

-24.24%

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

Last update for Gongju: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Gongju versus $738 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 168% higher in Gongju, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Gongju versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $482 vs $274 – 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

Gongju vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,538 in Gongju, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 25% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,306 per month in Gongju and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,538 in Gongju and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $633 per month in Gongju and $561 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Gongju at $1,538. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,538 in Gongju. 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.