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 $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Hawassa vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,567 per month in Hawassa vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Hawassa is about 33% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hawassa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 40% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.01 ETB 645
$4.41 ฿147
-9.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.04 ETB 6,754
$32.26 ฿1,077
30.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 ETB 1,026
$8.93 ฿298
-28.56%
Cappuccino
$0.91 ETB 146
$2.90 ฿96.6
-68.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ETB 100
$0.88 ฿29.38
-29.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 109
$0.48 ฿16.06
41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.79 ETB 127
$2.35 ฿78.5
-66.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 ETB 359
$3.72 ฿124
-40.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ETB 170
$1.87 ฿62.3
-43.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 ETB 194
$1.47 ฿48.94
-17.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 ETB 165
$1.55 ฿51.8
-33.55%
Eggs
$1.54 ETB 247
$2.10 ฿70.1
-26.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.22 ETB 1,160
$19.59 ฿654
-63.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.91 ETB 1,593
$3.42 ฿114
189.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.30 ETB 1,493
$11.38 ฿380
-18.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 ETB 853
$2.98 ฿99.6
78.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ETB 110
$1.68 ฿56.2
-58.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 ETB 353
$2.21 ฿73.7
-0.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 ETB 112
$2.16 ฿72.1
-67.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ETB 80.7
$1.52 ฿50.9
-67.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ETB 176
$1.34 ฿44.67
-17.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ETB 110
$1.13 ฿37.67
-39.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ETB 92.4
$0.55 ฿18.24
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 ETB 1,267
$4.26 ฿142
85.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.74 ETB 922
$19.09 ฿637
-69.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ETB 106
$1.78 ฿59.4
-62.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 ETB 198
$2.78 ฿92.9
-55.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.23 ฿74.4
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿759
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ETB 208
$3.03 ฿101
-57.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.75
$1.02 ฿34.15
-71.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 ETB 326
$3.89 ฿130
-47.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 ETB 156
$1.49 ฿49.77
-34.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1K ETB 8.9M
$26.6K ฿887.3K
107.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.6K ETB 8.8M
$27.0K ฿902.2K
102.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 ETB 32.7K
$102 ฿3,420
98.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.42 ETB 1,191
$11.33 ฿378
-34.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$210 ETB 33.7K
$17.40 ฿581
1104.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.1 ฿1,738
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.68 ETB 592
$7.69 ฿257
-52.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 ETB 21.6K
$561 ฿18.7K
-76.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ETB 4.9M
$11.5K ฿384.1K
164.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.25 ETB 5,342
$63.0 ฿2,104
-47.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.7 ETB 11.5K
$29.52 ฿986
142.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 ETB 12.7K
$98.0 ฿3,272
-19.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ETB 13.5K
$88.5 ฿2,954
-5.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$738 ฿24.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$497 ETB 79.9K
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-80.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hawassa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
5.57
232.14%

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

Last update for Hawassa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Hawassa versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Hawassa vs $274 in Phuket – so Hawassa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 50% 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 $1,847 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 $42.00 in Hawassa and $32.00 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 33% 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 $1,232. 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 $1,232 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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