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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $793 per month in Hawassa vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,222 per month in Hawassa vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,650 per month in Hawassa vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Hawassa is about 37% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hawassa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 41% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 ETB 705
$4.56 ฿149
-2.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.62 ETB 5,645
$46.63 ฿1,519
-23.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 ETB 1,051
$8.47 ฿276
-21.72%
Cappuccino
$1.25 ETB 198
$3.03 ฿98.6
-58.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 99.5
$0.69 ฿22.45
-8.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ETB 68.9
$0.37 ฿11.92
16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ETB 162
$2.49 ฿81.0
-59.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ETB 474
$3.66 ฿119
-18.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ETB 230
$2.18 ฿71.0
-33.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 ETB 205
$1.90 ฿62.0
-31.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ETB 162
$2.20 ฿71.6
-53.64%
Eggs
$1.53 ETB 243
$2.22 ฿72.4
-31.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 ETB 1,108
$19.99 ฿651
-65.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.85 ETB 2,196
$3.66 ฿119
278.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 ETB 2,086
$13.25 ฿432
-0.68%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 ETB 1,076
$3.23 ฿105
110.22%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ETB 153
$1.70 ฿55.3
-42.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 ETB 343
$2.39 ฿78.0
-9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ETB 155
$2.08 ฿67.7
-52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ETB 109
$1.59 ฿51.8
-56.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ETB 288
$1.48 ฿48.31
22.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ETB 111
$1.03 ฿33.54
-32.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 101
$0.52 ฿16.83
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09 ETB 648
$4.25 ฿138
-3.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.56 ETB 881
$18.79 ฿612
-70.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ETB 159
$1.76 ฿57.2
-43.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ETB 303
$2.76 ฿89.8
-30.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.36 ฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ETB 227
$3.14 ฿102
-54.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.44
$1.04 ฿33.74
-72.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 ETB 309
$13.77 ฿448
-85.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ETB 196
$1.34 ฿43.79
-8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.8K ETB 8.7M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
98.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.4K ETB 8.6M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
60.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 ETB 25.6K
$124 ฿4,025
30.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.88 ETB 1,882
$13.52 ฿440
-12.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129 ETB 20.4K
$18.69 ฿609
587.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.8 ฿2,013
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ETB 917
$9.14 ฿298
-36.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.9 ETB 12.8K
$703 ฿22.9K
-88.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.4K ETB 6.4M
$15.9K ฿517.0K
154.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.67 ETB 7,556
$59.5 ฿1,937
-19.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.4 ETB 12.0K
$35.07 ฿1,142
115.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.9 ETB 14.7K
$115 ฿3,754
-19.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ETB 18.4K
$84.1 ฿2,737
38.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$619 ฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$433 ฿14.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$500 ETB 79.3K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-80.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$507 ฿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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Hawassa versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $293 – 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 Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $793 in Hawassa, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 59% 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 $1,190 per month in Hawassa and $1,892 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 $36.00 in Hawassa and $47.00 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 14% 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 $793, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $793 in Hawassa to $1,261 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.

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