Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $823 per month in Hawassa vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,230 per month in Hawassa vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,637 per month in Hawassa vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Hawassa is about 35% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hawassa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 38% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.46 ETB 713
$4.48 ฿150
-0.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 ETB 5,534
$45.59 ฿1,521
-24.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 ETB 1,044
$8.76 ฿292
-25.46%
Cappuccino
$1.28 ETB 205
$2.97 ฿99.0
-56.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 103
$0.69 ฿22.90
-7.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ETB 69.8
$0.39 ฿13.04
12.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ETB 163
$2.53 ฿84.4
-59.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ETB 488
$3.75 ฿125
-18.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 ETB 223
$2.15 ฿71.6
-35.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ETB 213
$1.82 ฿60.6
-26.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ETB 158
$2.18 ฿72.9
-54.59%
Eggs
$1.58 ETB 253
$2.25 ฿75.0
-29.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.01 ETB 1,119
$20.00 ฿667
-64.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.95 ETB 2,227
$3.63 ฿121
284.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.27 ETB 2,118
$13.56 ฿452
-2.14%
Apples (1kg)
$6.81 ETB 1,088
$3.24 ฿108
110.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ETB 165
$1.64 ฿54.6
-37.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 ETB 364
$2.33 ฿77.8
-2.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00 ETB 159
$2.07 ฿69.1
-51.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ETB 100
$1.55 ฿51.6
-59.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 ETB 306
$1.46 ฿48.54
30.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ETB 112
$0.98 ฿32.86
-28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 101
$0.48 ฿16.09
31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88 ETB 620
$4.35 ฿145
-10.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.46 ETB 871
$18.57 ฿620
-70.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ETB 159
$1.86 ฿61.9
-46.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ETB 307
$2.65 ฿88.6
-27.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.42 ฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.57 ฿386
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ETB 240
$3.17 ฿106
-52.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ETB 42.71
$1.03 ฿34.41
-73.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 ETB 314
$13.89 ฿463
-85.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ETB 208
$1.34 ฿44.84
-2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.3K ETB 8.7M
$27.8K ฿927.1K
95.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.5K ETB 8.7M
$33.4K ฿1.1M
63.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 ETB 25.0K
$123 ฿4,105
27.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85 ETB 1,892
$13.77 ฿459
-13.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$130 ETB 20.7K
$18.33 ฿611
608.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.7 ฿2,025
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16 ฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.61 ETB 895
$8.87 ฿296
-36.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$82.5 ETB 13.2K
$688 ฿22.9K
-88.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.7K ETB 6.5M
$15.8K ฿526.4K
158.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.78 ETB 7,630
$59.3 ฿1,978
-19.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.7 ETB 12.2K
$34.69 ฿1,157
120.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 ETB 14.9K
$115 ฿3,843
-19.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ETB 18.0K
$83.8 ฿2,794
34.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$621 ฿20.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 ฿14.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,034 ฿67.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,496 ฿49.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,455 ฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$501 ETB 80.0K
$2,531 ฿84.4K
-80.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
5.33
218.95%

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

Last update for Hawassa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Hawassa versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $291 – making Hawassa 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
Hawassa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hawassa and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $823 in Hawassa, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 54% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hawassa compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,234 per month in Hawassa and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Hawassa and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawassa, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Hawassa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hawassa and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $823 in Hawassa to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hawassa or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Hawassa and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Hawassa. 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.

Hawassa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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