🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $190 in Inhambane versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $314 in Inhambane versus $2,078 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $439 in Inhambane versus $2,896 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Inhambane costs roughly 85% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Inhambane86% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.43฿145
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$35.07฿1,151
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.96฿294
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.00฿98.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.77฿25.33
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.47฿15.44
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.40฿78.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.75฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$5.38MZN 340
$1.82฿59.8
195.60%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.42฿46.65
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04MZN 65.5
$1.55฿50.8
-32.90%
Eggs
$1.85MZN 117
$2.13฿69.9
-13.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.76฿648
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.59MZN 354
$3.48฿114
60.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.76MZN 301
$11.09฿364
-57.08%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.91฿95.5
-
Banana(1kg)
$3.21MZN 203
$1.66฿54.6
93.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.40MZN 152
$2.27฿74.5
5.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52MZN 96.0
$2.10฿68.8
-27.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28MZN 144
$1.47฿48.24
55.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59MZN 101
$1.41฿46.29
12.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77MZN 48.45
$1.09฿35.78
-29.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MZN 41.42
$0.54฿17.58
20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.48฿147
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79MZN 493
$18.72฿614
-58.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MZN 47.09
$1.84฿60.4
-59.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93MZN 58.6
$2.95฿96.7
-68.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.26฿74.1
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.07฿757
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.04฿99.9
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.09฿35.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.82฿125
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MZN 90.5
$1.49฿48.79
-4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.4K฿900.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.5K฿902.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$102฿3,340
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.28฿370
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.75฿582
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$54.2฿1,777
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.96฿360
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.85฿258
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$577฿18.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.6K฿381.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$65.4฿2,144
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.89฿948
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.1฿3,250
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$90.3฿2,961
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$756฿24.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$487฿16.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,085฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,207฿39.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,591฿117.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,610฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Inhambane
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$502฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Inhambane: August 18, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
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
Inhambane vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Inhambane?
Inhambane is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 564% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $285 in Inhambane and $1,891 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.
How do food prices compare in Inhambane and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Inhambane and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $190 per month in Inhambane versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 564% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Inhambane or in Phuket?
At $190 in Inhambane versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Inhambane but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Inhambane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Inhambane or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Inhambane is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Inhambane or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Inhambane 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Inhambane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 564% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.