Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamra and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Hamra and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Hamra versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Hamra versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Hamra versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Hamra costs roughly 30% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hamra34% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68LBP 955.9K
$4.70฿153
127.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8LBP 5.4M
$45.37฿1,482
33.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98LBP 714.1K
$8.43฿275
-5.34%
Cappuccino
$3.31LBP 296.4K
$2.93฿95.6
12.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59LBP 142.2K
$0.69฿22.40
130.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 78.0K
$0.37฿11.99
135.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43LBP 306.8K
$2.41฿78.6
42.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92LBP 440.2K
$3.72฿122
32.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LBP 160.2K
$2.23฿72.9
-19.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 76.3K
$1.83฿59.8
-53.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75LBP 156.6K
$2.17฿70.8
-19.35%
Eggs
$3.17LBP 283.5K
$2.21฿72.3
43.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32LBP 1.0M
$19.74฿645
-42.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.31LBP 833.2K
$3.63฿119
156.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.23LBP 1.0M
$13.53฿442
-17.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72LBP 154.3K
$3.28฿107
-47.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LBP 137.3K
$1.61฿52.6
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14LBP 102.3K
$2.41฿78.6
-52.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.2K
$2.08฿68.1
-47.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94LBP 84.4K
$1.53฿49.93
-38.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.8K
$1.48฿48.36
-33.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86LBP 77.0K
$0.99฿32.29
-13.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56LBP 50.3K
$0.51฿16.67
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43LBP 217.1K
$4.41฿144
-44.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05LBP 899.9K
$19.38฿633
-48.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28LBP 114.9K
$1.78฿58.1
-28.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16LBP 193.0K
$2.71฿88.6
-20.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.90LBP 438.8K
$3.02฿98.6
62.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27LBP 113.6K
$0.99฿32.48
28.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.91LBP 1.8M
$14.10฿461
41.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88LBP 78.5K
$1.36฿44.51
-35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KLBP 3.2B
$28.2K฿921.1K
25.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KLBP 2.5B
$32.9K฿1.1M
-14.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$211LBP 18.9M
$122฿3,975
73.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.01LBP 3.3M
$13.57฿443
172.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.63LBP 3.4M
$18.31฿598
105.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.2฿1,967
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.03LBP 718.9K
$8.69฿284
-7.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302LBP 27.1M
$693฿22.6K
-56.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,376LBP 391.7M
$15.7K฿512.3K
-72.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0LBP 6.3M
$59.5฿1,944
17.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.64LBP 4.1M
$34.77฿1,136
31.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122LBP 10.9M
$115฿3,743
6.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6LBP 8.5M
$83.3฿2,720
13.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$613฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$437฿14.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,094฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,509฿49.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,749฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,616฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
5.33
109.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamra: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $61.0 in Hamra vs $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $293, with Hamra cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hamra vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamra and Phuket?
Hamra and Phuket differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($889 vs $1,265 including rent). Hamra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamra compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,333 in Hamra and $1,898 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamra and Phuket?
Childcare runs $302 in Hamra versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamra – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $889 in Hamra versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamra and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hamra or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamra and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hamra or Phuket?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.