Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,739 per month in Hilo, HI vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,789 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,839 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Hilo, HI costs about 117% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hilo, HI sits 106% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.68 $16.68

$4.48 ฿150

272.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$45.59 ฿1,521

71.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$8.76 ฿292

26.83%

Cappuccino

$7.94 $7.94

$2.97 ฿99.0

167.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.69 ฿22.90

228.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.39 ฿13.04

487.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.53 ฿84.4

131.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.75 ฿125

64.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.15 ฿71.6

-18.14%

White Bread (500g)

$7.51 $7.51

$1.82 ฿60.6

312.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$2.18 ฿72.9

196.79%

Eggs

$8.59 $8.59

$2.25 ฿75.0

281.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$20.00 ฿667

-34.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$3.63 ฿121

311.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.69 $23.69

$13.56 ฿452

74.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$3.24 ฿108

78.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.64 ฿54.6

67.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.65 $9.65

$2.33 ฿77.8

314.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$2.07 ฿69.1

425.12%

Potato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.55 ฿51.6

228.39%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$1.46 ฿48.54

419.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.66 $4.66

$0.98 ฿32.86

375.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.48 ฿16.09

470.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 $13.36

$4.35 ฿145

207.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$18.57 ฿620

-18.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.86 ฿61.9

-4.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.65 ฿88.6

24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.42 ฿47.28

37.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.17 ฿106

19.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.03 ฿34.41

8.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$13.89 ฿463

112.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.34 ฿44.84

-6.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.6K $22.6K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-18.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K $23.9K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-28.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$279 $279

$123 ฿4,105

126.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.13 $42.13

$13.77 ฿459

205.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$18.33 ฿611

190.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.55 $49.55

$60.7 ฿2,025

-18.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 $12.42

$8.87 ฿296

40.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$688 ฿22.9K

91.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

49.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.69 $38.69

$59.3 ฿1,978

-34.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$34.69 ฿1,157

-70.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 $77.9

$115 ฿3,843

-32.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 $79.0

$83.8 ฿2,794

-5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 $1,691

$621 ฿20.7K

172.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$446 ฿14.9K

174.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,034 ฿67.8K

10.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$1,496 ฿49.9K

5.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,321 $5,321

$3,455 ฿115.3K

54.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,334 $5,334

$2,531 ฿84.4K

110.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,536 $4,536

$494 ฿16.5K

818.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

5.33

18.57%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,691 in Hilo, HI versus $621 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 819% higher in Hilo, HI, 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 $78.0 in Hilo, HI versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 vs $291 – making Phuket 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

Hilo, HI vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI costs about 117% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,109 per month in Hilo, HI and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Hilo, HI and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 108% more in Hilo, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Hilo, HI at $2,739. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilo, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $2,739 in Hilo, HI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hilo, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.