Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Kabwe vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $948 per month in Kabwe vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Kabwe vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Kabwe is about 50% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kabwe and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 53% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.30 ZMW 128
$4.56 ฿149
60.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.29 ZMW 442
$46.63 ฿1,519
-45.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.68 ZMW 64.3
$8.47 ฿276
-56.55%
Cappuccino
$2.03 ZMW 35.54
$3.03 ฿98.6
-33.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZMW 12.74
$0.69 ฿22.45
5.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.35
$0.37 ฿11.92
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ZMW 16.51
$2.49 ฿81.0
-62.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ZMW 31.65
$3.66 ฿119
-50.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ZMW 22.17
$2.18 ฿71.0
-41.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ZMW 13.12
$1.90 ฿62.0
-60.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 ZMW 29.11
$2.20 ฿71.6
-24.09%
Eggs
$0.97 ZMW 16.92
$2.22 ฿72.4
-56.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ZMW 137
$19.99 ฿651
-60.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 ZMW 66.5
$3.66 ฿119
3.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.55 ZMW 79.6
$13.25 ฿432
-65.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 ZMW 43.32
$3.23 ฿105
-23.22%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 ZMW 15.14
$1.70 ฿55.3
-48.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ZMW 48.73
$2.39 ฿78.0
16.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 ZMW 20.28
$2.08 ฿67.7
-44.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 ZMW 31.40
$1.59 ฿51.8
13.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ZMW 22.93
$1.48 ฿48.31
-11.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ZMW 16.11
$1.03 ฿33.54
-10.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 9.11
$0.52 ฿16.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42 ZMW 42.26
$4.25 ฿138
-43.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 ZMW 196
$18.79 ฿612
-40.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 ZMW 19.21
$1.76 ฿57.2
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ZMW 26.65
$2.76 ฿89.8
-44.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.36 ฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 ZMW 48.37
$3.14 ฿102
-11.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 ฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.94 ZMW 156
$13.77 ฿448
-35.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 21.68
$1.34 ฿43.79
-7.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,110 ZMW 141.8K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-70.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K ZMW 504.9K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-14.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.3 ZMW 1,614
$124 ฿4,025
-25.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 ZMW 909
$13.52 ฿440
284.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 2,194
$18.69 ฿609
571.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.8 ฿2,013
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 ZMW 71.6
$9.14 ฿298
-55.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 ZMW 3,150
$703 ฿22.9K
-74.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,441 ZMW 165.0K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-40.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.14 ZMW 334
$59.5 ฿1,937
-67.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.66 ZMW 291
$35.07 ฿1,142
-52.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 ZMW 1,484
$115 ฿3,754
-26.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7 ZMW 1,253
$84.1 ฿2,737
-14.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kabwe
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
Kabwe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$507 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
5.33
369.04%

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

Last update for Kabwe: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kabwe versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $293 – making Kabwe 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
Kabwe vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kabwe or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 99% more than Kabwe, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Kabwe vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Kabwe and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Kabwe vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kabwe and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kabwe or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 72% 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 Kabwe or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kabwe, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Kabwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kabwe or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kabwe costs $632 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kabwe 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 Kabwe or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kabwe. 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.

Kabwe vs other spots: cost of living compared

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