Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $345 in Ho versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $562 in Ho versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $780 in Ho versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Ho costs roughly 73% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho 74% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 GHS 32.34
$4.56 ฿149
-35.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.87 GHS 109
$46.63 ฿1,519
-78.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.97 GHS 43.70
$8.47 ฿276
-53.13%
Cappuccino
$1.48 GHS 16.29
$3.03 ฿98.6
-51.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 GHS 5.50
$0.69 ฿22.45
-27.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 GHS 3.31
$0.37 ฿11.92
-18.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.47 GHS 5.19
$2.49 ฿81.0
-81.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 GHS 8.73
$3.66 ฿119
-78.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 GHS 12.63
$2.18 ฿71.0
-47.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 GHS 5.60
$1.90 ฿62.0
-73.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 GHS 8.41
$2.20 ฿71.6
-65.45%
Eggs
$2.38 GHS 26.23
$2.22 ฿72.4
7.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 GHS 121
$19.99 ฿651
-45.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.26 GHS 46.91
$3.66 ฿119
16.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.28 GHS 58.1
$13.25 ฿432
-60.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 GHS 23.97
$3.23 ฿105
-32.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 GHS 10.46
$1.70 ฿55.3
-44.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 GHS 10.18
$2.39 ฿78.0
-61.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 GHS 10.94
$2.08 ฿67.7
-52.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 GHS 21.85
$1.59 ฿51.8
25.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 GHS 10.15
$1.48 ฿48.31
-37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 GHS 3.05
$1.03 ฿33.54
-72.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 GHS 5.52
$0.52 ฿16.83
-3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57 GHS 17.31
$4.25 ฿138
-63.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.07 GHS 77.7
$18.79 ฿612
-62.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 GHS 6.17
$1.76 ฿57.2
-68.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 GHS 12.73
$2.76 ฿89.8
-57.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.36 ฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 GHS 17.08
$3.14 ฿102
-50.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 GHS 12.75
$1.04 ฿33.74
11.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 GHS 60.1
$13.77 ฿448
-60.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 GHS 10.39
$1.34 ฿43.79
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$5,906 GHS 65.0K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-78.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,919 GHS 87.1K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-76.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.51 GHS 270
$124 ฿4,025
-80.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.01 GHS 143
$13.52 ฿440
-3.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.55 GHS 160
$18.69 ฿609
-22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.8 ฿2,013
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 GHS 105
$9.14 ฿298
4.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.5 GHS 809
$703 ฿22.9K
-89.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,960 GHS 87.6K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-49.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.77 GHS 162
$59.5 ฿1,937
-75.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.81 GHS 207
$35.07 ฿1,142
-46.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$29.52 GHS 325
$115 ฿3,754
-74.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.79 GHS 460
$84.1 ฿2,737
-50.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho
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)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$507 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25.4
5.33
376.55%

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

Last update for Ho: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $10.00 in Ho vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $293 per month, with Ho cheaper across the board.

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
Ho vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ho and Phuket?
Ho and Phuket differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($345 vs $1,261 including rent). Ho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ho compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $517 in Ho and $1,892 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ho and Phuket?
Childcare runs $73.5 in Ho versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ho – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $345 in Ho versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ho but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ho and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ho or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ho and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ho or Phuket?
Expats usually find Ho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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