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: $1,009 in Hamra versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Hamra versus $2,089 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Hamra versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Hamra costs roughly 20% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hamra27% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.06LBP 1.1M
$4.66฿154
158.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2LBP 5.7M
$32.22฿1,065
99.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17LBP 910.6K
$8.68฿287
17.17%
Cappuccino
$4.77LBP 426.5K
$2.90฿95.8
64.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36LBP 211.4K
$0.84฿27.89
180.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83LBP 74.2K
$0.49฿16.16
69.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.02LBP 449.1K
$2.48฿82.0
102.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93LBP 441.2K
$3.73฿123
32.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96LBP 175.7K
$1.89฿62.3
3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90LBP 80.5K
$1.41฿46.54
-36.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16LBP 193.7K
$1.62฿53.6
33.33%
Eggs
$3.65LBP 326.6K
$2.24฿74.1
62.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.24LBP 1.2M
$19.84฿656
-33.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.77LBP 963.8K
$3.48฿115
209.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.15LBP 1.3M
$11.37฿376
24.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11LBP 278.2K
$2.90฿95.8
7.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64LBP 146.9K
$1.72฿57.0
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67LBP 149.6K
$2.27฿75.1
-26.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49LBP 133.2K
$2.13฿70.4
-30.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36LBP 121.6K
$1.47฿48.72
-7.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62LBP 145.2K
$1.42฿46.92
14.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21LBP 108.7K
$1.10฿36.25
10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68LBP 61.0K
$0.60฿19.76
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99LBP 267.3K
$4.31฿142
-30.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20LBP 912.8K
$18.60฿615
-45.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32LBP 118.0K
$1.80฿59.5
-26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48LBP 222.0K
$2.97฿98.0
-16.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.25฿74.2
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.49฿776
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88LBP 436.9K
$3.10฿102
57.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21LBP 197.5K
$1.08฿35.56
104.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.34LBP 2.0M
$3.87฿128
477.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05LBP 93.6K
$1.43฿47.16
-26.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.3KLBP 4.9B
$27.8K฿918.0K
95.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KLBP 2.9B
$27.0K฿891.5K
20.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227LBP 20.3M
$105฿3,462
116.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.60LBP 2.1M
$11.39฿376
107.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.29LBP 3.4M
$17.54฿580
118.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$54.3฿1,795
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.44฿378
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.14LBP 907.9K
$7.78฿257
30.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$684LBP 61.2M
$576฿19.0K
18.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KLBP 967.0M
$11.6K฿382.7K
-6.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3LBP 6.1M
$63.6฿2,103
7.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0LBP 4.5M
$29.10฿961
71.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136LBP 12.2M
$96.2฿3,179
41.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120LBP 10.7M
$90.0฿2,974
33.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$733฿24.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$501฿16.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,126฿70.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,252฿41.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,534฿116.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,622฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
5.57
97.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamra: September 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Hamra vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $275 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 in Phuket?
Hamra and Phuket differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,009 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 $1,514 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 $684 in Hamra versus $576 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 $64.0 versus $32.00 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 $1,009 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 25% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.