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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,500 per month in Gongju vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,339 per month in Gongju vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,178 per month in Gongju vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Gongju costs about 19% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gongju sits 12% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.04 ₩10.7K

$4.56 ฿149

54.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.67 ₩55.7K

$46.63 ฿1,519

-21.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 ₩9,341

$8.47 ฿276

-27.39%

Cappuccino

$4.15 ₩6,297

$3.03 ฿98.6

36.96%

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

$1.78 ₩2,710

$0.69 ฿22.45

157.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₩2,041

$0.37 ฿11.92

262.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₩5,727

$2.49 ฿81.0

51.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 ₩8,753

$3.66 ฿119

57.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₩3,440

$2.18 ฿71.0

4.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 ₩5,447

$1.90 ฿62.0

88.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,583

$2.20 ฿71.6

37.27%

Eggs

$2.91 ₩4,418

$2.22 ฿72.4

31.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.50 ₩16.0K

$19.99 ฿651

-47.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 ₩12.7K

$3.66 ฿119

128.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.29 ₩41.4K

$13.25 ฿432

105.96%

Apples (1kg)

$8.50 ₩12.9K

$3.23 ฿105

163.16%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 ₩4,751

$1.70 ฿55.3

84.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.49 ₩11.4K

$2.39 ฿78.0

213.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 ₩7,865

$2.08 ฿67.7

149.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.22 ₩7,933

$1.59 ฿51.8

228.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 ₩4,557

$1.48 ฿48.31

102.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₩3,111

$1.03 ฿33.54

99.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,764

$0.52 ฿16.83

123.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₩4,881

$4.25 ฿138

-24.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.39 ₩24.9K

$18.79 ฿612

-12.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₩2,589

$1.76 ฿57.2

-3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ₩5,134

$2.76 ฿89.8

22.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,689

$1.36 ฿44.32

-18.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩5,392

$3.14 ฿102

13.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₩1,214

$1.04 ฿33.74

-23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.59 ₩25.2K

$13.77 ฿448

20.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₩1,839

$1.34 ฿43.79

-9.70%

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

$28.1K ₩42.6M

$27.7K ฿901.4K

1.42%

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

$24.9K ₩37.8M

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-26.55%

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

$188 ₩286.0K

$124 ฿4,025

52.38%

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

$49.83 ₩75.7K

$13.52 ฿440

268.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₩42.3K

$18.69 ฿609

48.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.83 ₩72.6K

$61.8 ฿2,013

-22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 ₩17.2K

$9.14 ฿298

24.29%

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

$490 ₩744.8K

$703 ฿22.9K

-30.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₩21.3M

$15.9K ฿517.0K

-11.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩153.8K

$59.5 ฿1,937

70.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.13 ₩73.1K

$35.07 ฿1,142

37.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₩135.4K

$115 ฿3,754

-22.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₩180.4K

$84.1 ฿2,737

41.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₩700.0K

$619 ฿20.1K

-25.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₩573.2K

$433 ฿14.1K

-12.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 ₩1.6M

$2,062 ฿67.2K

-49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₩1.2M

$1,511 ฿49.2K

-48.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,505 ₩14.4M

$3,646 ฿118.7K

160.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,298 ₩8.0M

$2,626 ฿85.5K

101.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,125 ₩1.7M

$507 ฿16.5K

121.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.33

-20.83%

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

Last update for Gongju: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Gongju versus $619 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 122% 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 $37.00 in Gongju versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Gongju vs $293 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,500 in Gongju, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 19% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,250 per month in Gongju and $1,892 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 $1,500 in Gongju and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Gongju and $703 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 $1,261, than in Gongju at $1,500. 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 $1,261 in Phuket to $1,500 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.