🙂A single person spends $453 per month in Hargeysa vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $744 per month in Hargeysa vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,035 per month in Hargeysa vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Hargeysa is about 63% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hargeysa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa67% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.12SOS 2,907
$4.41฿147
16.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.57SOS 9,979
$32.26฿1,077
-45.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.35SOS 3,039
$8.93฿298
-40.09%
Cappuccino
$1.46SOS 830
$2.90฿96.6
-49.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98SOS 555
$0.88฿29.38
11.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14SOS 646
$0.48฿16.06
137.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.35฿78.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29SOS 734
$1.87฿62.3
-31.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10SOS 625
$1.47฿48.94
-25.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08SOS 615
$1.55฿51.8
-30.32%
Eggs
$2.50SOS 1,418
$2.10฿70.1
19.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.59฿654
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36SOS 3,613
$3.42฿114
85.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.90SOS 2,217
$11.38฿380
-65.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04SOS 1,159
$2.98฿99.6
-31.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52SOS 862
$1.68฿56.2
-9.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04SOS 1,156
$2.21฿73.7
-7.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34SOS 759
$2.16฿72.1
-37.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22SOS 690
$1.52฿50.9
-19.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48SOS 839
$1.34฿44.67
10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02SOS 579
$1.13฿37.67
-9.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63SOS 355
$0.55฿18.24
14.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.98SOS 559
$4.26฿142
-77.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.09฿637
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿59.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78฿92.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29SOS 165
$2.23฿74.4
-87.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.40SOS 7,045
$22.74฿759
-45.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76SOS 432
$3.03฿101
-74.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68SOS 384
$1.02฿34.15
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.06SOS 2,304
$3.89฿130
4.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01SOS 576
$1.49฿49.77
-32.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.1KSOS 5.7M
$26.6K฿887.3K
-61.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.8KSOS 6.7M
$27.0K฿902.2K
-56.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.64SOS 25.4K
$102฿3,420
-56.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.55SOS 4,291
$11.33฿378
-33.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.17SOS 11.5K
$17.40฿581
15.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.67SOS 21.4K
$52.1฿1,738
-27.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.96SOS 1,113
$11.07฿370
-82.29%
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.69฿257
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.02SOS 14.2K
$561฿18.7K
-95.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$266SOS 151.0K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-97.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.42SOS 7,052
$63.0฿2,104
-80.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.73SOS 11.2K
$29.52฿986
-33.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$17.71SOS 10.1K
$98.0฿3,272
-81.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.68SOS 16.9K
$88.5฿2,954
-66.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$111SOS 63.3K
$738฿24.6K
-84.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.7SOS 39.6K
$482฿16.1K
-85.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$302SOS 171.8K
$2,107฿70.3K
-85.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168SOS 95.7K
$1,226฿40.9K
-86.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,082SOS 2.9M
$3,617฿120.7K
40.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,603฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hargeysa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$306SOS 173.6K
$494฿16.5K
-38.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5.57
259.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hargeysa: September 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Hargeysa 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 62% higher in Phuket, 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 $18.00 in Hargeysa versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $134 vs $274 – making Hargeysa 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
Hargeysa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hargeysa or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 172% more than Hargeysa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hargeysa and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $679 per month in Hargeysa and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hargeysa or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hargeysa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Hargeysa compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $453 in Hargeysa and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hargeysa compared to Phuket?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Hargeysa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hargeysa or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hargeysa, where all-in costs run around $453, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Hargeysa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hargeysa or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hargeysa costs $453 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hargeysa compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Hargeysa or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Hargeysa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.