🙂A single person spends $919 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,482 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Hiroshima is about 27% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Hiroshima and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Hiroshima33% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.05¥945
$4.56฿150
32.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.23¥4,879
$32.62฿1,072
-4.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.89¥764
$8.90฿293
-45.06%
Cappuccino
$2.72¥426
$2.80฿92.2
-2.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02¥160
$0.88฿28.93
15.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67¥105
$0.49฿16.08
36.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64¥413
$2.39฿78.5
10.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65¥570
$3.71฿122
-1.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50¥235
$1.79฿58.7
-16.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56¥243
$1.44฿47.38
8.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.68¥731
$1.58฿52.1
196.20%
Eggs
$2.09¥326
$2.13฿69.9
-1.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.93¥770
$19.92฿655
-75.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.96¥931
$3.43฿113
73.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07¥1,730
$11.33฿372
-2.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39¥529
$2.95฿96.9
14.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90¥297
$1.72฿56.6
10.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.74¥584
$2.32฿76.4
61.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73¥582
$2.08฿68.4
79.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50¥234
$1.47฿48.33
2.04%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44¥537
$1.36฿44.64
152.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28¥200
$1.10฿36.12
16.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77¥121
$0.57฿18.89
35.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83¥599
$4.27฿140
-10.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.63¥1,192
$18.42฿605
-58.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85¥289
$1.87฿61.5
-1.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46¥384
$2.92฿96.0
-15.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91¥298
$2.22฿72.9
-13.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.72¥581
$3.03฿99.6
22.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23¥192
$1.07฿35.31
14.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.94¥3,271
$3.93฿129
432.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04¥163
$1.49฿49.04
-30.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K¥3.3M
$27.1K฿891.7K
-21.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K¥2.4M
$27.5K฿902.3K
-44.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137¥21.4K
$103฿3,379
33.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.88¥3,730
$10.99฿361
117.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.26¥4,727
$17.51฿576
72.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.6¥8,368
$53.5฿1,760
0.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.80¥749
$11.20฿368
-57.14%
Cinema Ticket
$11.97¥1,870
$7.48฿246
60.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158¥24.6K
$557฿18.3K
-71.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,422¥534.6K
$11.9K฿389.6K
-71.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.18¥4,403
$64.1฿2,106
-56.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.90¥3,891
$29.07฿956
-14.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.12¥7,362
$96.0฿3,154
-50.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.8¥9,654
$90.3฿2,970
-31.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$238¥37.2K
$730฿24.0K
-67.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185¥28.9K
$500฿16.4K
-62.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$635¥99.2K
$2,090฿68.7K
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503¥78.6K
$1,209฿39.7K
-58.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,883¥294.1K
$3,596฿118.2K
-47.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,889¥295.1K
$2,512฿82.6K
-24.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hiroshima
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,956¥305.6K
$503฿16.5K
288.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.21
5.57
-60.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hiroshima: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Hiroshima versus $730 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 289% higher in Hiroshima, 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 $31.00 in Hiroshima versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $273 – making Hiroshima 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
Hiroshima vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hiroshima or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 36% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hiroshima and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,378 per month in Hiroshima and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hiroshima or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hiroshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Hiroshima and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Hiroshima and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Hiroshima or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hiroshima or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hiroshima or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hiroshima costs $919 versus $1,253 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hiroshima compared to Phuket?
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.
Should I move to Hiroshima or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Hiroshima. 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.