Cost of Living Comparison Between Heyuan and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Heyuan and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $767 per month in Heyuan vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,200 per month in Heyuan vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,634 per month in Heyuan vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Heyuan is about 39% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Heyuan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Heyuan43% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73¥18.45
$4.70฿154
-41.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.02¥102
$45.37฿1,488
-66.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30¥29.11
$8.43฿276
-48.99%
Cappuccino
$2.15¥14.53
$2.93฿96.0
-26.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36¥2.44
$0.69฿22.48
-47.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.37฿12.04
-40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.72¥4.90
$2.41฿79.0
-70.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64¥11.11
$3.72฿122
-55.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93¥13.05
$2.23฿73.2
-13.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09¥14.14
$1.83฿60.1
14.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25¥8.48
$2.17฿71.1
-42.40%
Eggs
$1.53¥10.33
$2.21฿72.6
-30.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.77¥127
$19.74฿647
-4.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71¥31.84
$3.63฿119
29.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.21¥96.1
$13.53฿444
5.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11¥14.26
$3.28฿107
-35.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.55
$1.61฿52.8
-21.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94¥13.10
$2.41฿79.0
-19.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43¥9.68
$2.08฿68.3
-31.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88¥5.92
$1.53฿50.1
-42.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09¥7.35
$1.48฿48.56
-26.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51¥3.48
$0.99฿32.42
-48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61¥4.10
$0.51฿16.73
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88¥26.28
$4.41฿144
-12.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.40¥70.4
$19.38฿636
-46.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93¥6.28
$1.78฿58.3
-47.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43¥9.70
$2.71฿88.9
-47.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.82
$1.37฿44.96
-80.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.77¥113
$11.39฿374
47.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.63¥11.05
$3.02฿99.0
-46.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38¥2.54
$0.99฿32.61
-61.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22¥42.11
$14.10฿462
-55.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥7.99
$1.36฿44.68
-13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K¥143.1K
$28.2K฿924.7K
-24.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K¥131.3K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-41.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.8¥405
$122฿3,991
-50.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.99¥87.9
$13.57฿445
-4.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.78¥79.7
$18.31฿600
-35.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28¥286
$60.2฿1,975
-29.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69¥92.6
$17.14฿562
-20.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22¥42.08
$8.69฿285
-28.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320¥2,165
$693฿22.7K
-53.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K¥110.0K
$15.7K฿514.4K
3.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.68¥282
$59.5฿1,952
-29.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.93¥189
$34.77฿1,140
-19.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.3¥469
$115฿3,758
-39.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.5¥409
$83.3฿2,731
-27.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279¥1,888
$613฿20.1K
-54.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191¥1,291
$437฿14.3K
-56.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586¥3,967
$2,094฿68.7K
-72.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364¥2,464
$1,509฿49.5K
-75.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,117¥21.1K
$3,749฿122.9K
-16.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,629¥11.0K
$2,616฿85.8K
-37.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heyuan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,327¥8,978
$508฿16.7K
161.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
5.33
-23.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Heyuan: June 2, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Heyuan versus $613 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 161% higher in Heyuan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Heyuan versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $293 – making Heyuan 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
Heyuan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Heyuan and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $767 in Heyuan, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 65% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Heyuan compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,150 per month in Heyuan and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Heyuan and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Heyuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Heyuan and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Heyuan, where all-in costs run around $767, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Heyuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Heyuan and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $767 in Heyuan to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Heyuan 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 Heyuan and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Heyuan. 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.