Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Kafue vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,039 per month in Kafue vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,375 per month in Kafue vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Kafue is about 43% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kafue and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kafue 48% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.05 ZMW 134
$4.63 ฿151
52.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.14 ZMW 477
$46.84 ฿1,532
-46.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 ZMW 69.2
$8.84 ฿289
-58.82%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ZMW 36.51
$3.00 ฿98.0
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ZMW 13.00
$0.74 ฿24.25
-6.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.84
$0.37 ฿11.95
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ZMW 18.02
$2.44 ฿79.8
-61.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 ZMW 34.23
$3.61 ฿118
-50.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 ZMW 25.38
$2.26 ฿73.9
-40.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ZMW 14.22
$1.84 ฿60.1
-59.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 ZMW 30.20
$2.24 ฿73.4
-29.02%
Eggs
$1.83 ZMW 34.71
$2.32 ฿75.7
-21.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 ZMW 146
$19.67 ฿643
-61.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 ZMW 75.2
$3.65 ฿119
8.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.67 ZMW 88.6
$13.10 ฿428
-64.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ZMW 49.38
$3.39 ฿111
-23.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ZMW 30.51
$1.64 ฿53.7
-1.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 ZMW 51.4
$2.41 ฿79.0
12.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ZMW 21.11
$2.03 ฿66.4
-45.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 ZMW 34.37
$1.56 ฿50.9
16.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ZMW 26.00
$1.50 ฿48.94
-8.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 ZMW 16.45
$1.02 ฿33.50
-14.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ZMW 9.68
$0.49 ฿16.00
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ZMW 46.15
$4.45 ฿145
-45.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 ZMW 149
$18.88 ฿617
-58.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ZMW 21.67
$1.78 ฿58.1
-35.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ZMW 29.53
$2.75 ฿90.1
-43.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 ZMW 30.79
$1.40 ฿45.81
15.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.22 ZMW 896
$11.48 ฿376
311.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 ZMW 51.6
$3.12 ฿102
-12.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.00 ฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.43 ZMW 179
$14.09 ฿461
-33.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ZMW 22.71
$1.35 ฿44.19
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,881 ZMW 149.6K
$27.2K ฿888.9K
-71.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K ZMW 548.3K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-12.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.9 ZMW 1,706
$125 ฿4,087
-28.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 ZMW 1,005
$13.57 ฿444
290.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$124 ZMW 2,355
$18.52 ฿606
569.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.5 ฿2,010
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84 ฿551
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 ZMW 77.3
$9.19 ฿300
-55.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$177 ZMW 3,351
$698 ฿22.8K
-74.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,736 ZMW 184.8K
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-37.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.66 ZMW 354
$57.8 ฿1,889
-67.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.33 ZMW 329
$35.24 ฿1,152
-50.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 ZMW 1,630
$113 ฿3,699
-24.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 ZMW 1,393
$86.4 ฿2,825
-15.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$616 ฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 ฿14.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kafue
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$524 ฿17.1K
-
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 Kafue: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kafue versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $292 – making Kafue 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
Kafue vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kafue and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $702 in Kafue, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 75% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kafue compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,053 per month in Kafue and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kafue and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $177 per month in Kafue and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 69% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kafue, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Kafue it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kafue and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $702 in Kafue to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kafue or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kafue and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kafue. 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.

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