Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamrun and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamrun and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,697 in Hamrun versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Hamrun versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,550 in Hamrun versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Hamrun is roughly 35% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamrun is 24% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92 €11.12
$4.56 ฿150
183.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.4 €49.37
$32.62 ฿1,073
75.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.49 €8.17
$8.90 ฿293
6.63%
Cappuccino
$2.05 €1.76
$2.80 ฿92.3
-26.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.88 ฿28.96
128.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.28
$0.49 ฿16.09
204.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 €1.80
$2.39 ฿78.6
-12.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.96
$3.71 ฿122
-38.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.79 ฿58.8
-26.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.44 ฿47.43
-6.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 €3.82
$1.58 ฿52.1
181.01%
Eggs
$4.46 €3.84
$2.13 ฿70.0
109.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 €7.26
$19.92 ฿655
-57.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.87 €9.36
$3.43 ฿113
216.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.94 €16.30
$11.33 ฿373
67.17%
Apples (1kg)
$4.27 €3.67
$2.95 ฿97.0
44.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 €2.41
$1.72 ฿56.6
62.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 €3.20
$2.32 ฿76.5
60.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 €2.98
$2.08 ฿68.5
66.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$1.47 ฿48.37
80.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 €1.83
$1.36 ฿44.68
56.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.10 ฿36.15
116.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.14
$0.57 ฿18.90
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.21 €6.20
$4.27 ฿140
68.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.44 €7.26
$18.42 ฿606
-54.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.58
$1.87 ฿61.6
-2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 €2.14
$2.92 ฿96.1
-15.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.63 €2.27
$2.22 ฿73.0
18.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.90 ฿753
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 €5.12
$3.03 ฿99.7
96.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.07 ฿35.34
122.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.84 €23.96
$3.93 ฿129
608.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.49 ฿49.09
6.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$27.1K ฿892.5K
44.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K €34.9K
$27.5K ฿903.2K
47.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 €92.4
$103 ฿3,382
4.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85 €23.11
$10.99 ฿362
144.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.71 €24.71
$17.51 ฿576
63.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.8 €56.6
$53.5 ฿1,761
22.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20 ฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.38 €8.94
$7.48 ฿246
38.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$376 €324
$557 ฿18.3K
-32.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K €10.0K
$11.9K ฿390.0K
-1.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 €79.0
$64.1 ฿2,108
43.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.52 €35.74
$29.07 ฿957
42.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €90.5
$96.0 ฿3,157
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 €70.1
$90.3 ฿2,972
-9.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$875 €753
$730 ฿24.0K
19.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 €665
$500 ฿16.4K
54.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 €1,396
$2,090 ฿68.8K
-22.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 €1,191
$1,209 ฿39.8K
14.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 €3,448
$3,596 ฿118.3K
11.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,871 €2,472
$2,512 ฿82.7K
14.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamrun
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.9
5.57
-47.94%

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

Last update for Hamrun: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $875 in Hamrun and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $57.0 in Hamrun vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $273 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
Hamrun vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Hamrun?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,545 in Hamrun and $1,880 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 rent difference between Hamrun and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $875 in Hamrun versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hamrun and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Hamrun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamrun and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,697 per month in Hamrun versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamrun or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,697 in Hamrun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hamrun. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamrun or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamrun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamrun or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Hamrun 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Hamrun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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