ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $592 in Kampong Cham versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $945 in Kampong Cham versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,298 in Kampong Cham versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Kampong Cham costs roughly 52% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Kampong Cham56% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.44á9,826
$4.63āļŋ151
-47.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.20á97.5K
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-48.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03á32.3K
$8.84āļŋ287
-9.16%
Cappuccino
$1.60á6,437
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-46.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69á2,781
$0.74āļŋ24.11
-6.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47á1,879
$0.37āļŋ11.88
27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99á3,987
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-59.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91á7,689
$3.61āļŋ117
-47.09%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75á7,048
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-22.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39á5,584
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-24.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78á3,124
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-65.18%
Eggs
$1.62á6,537
$2.32āļŋ75.3
-30.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43á58.2K
$19.67āļŋ639
-26.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.50á14.1K
$3.65āļŋ119
-4.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.82á35.5K
$13.10āļŋ426
-32.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05á8,249
$3.39āļŋ110
-39.53%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76á3,080
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-53.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02á12.2K
$2.41āļŋ78.5
25.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02á4,100
$2.03āļŋ66.0
-49.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22á4,897
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-21.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97á3,928
$1.50āļŋ48.66
-35.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37á5,513
$1.02āļŋ33.30
34.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58á2,340
$0.49āļŋ15.91
18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.27á5,127
$4.45āļŋ145
-71.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51á30.3K
$18.88āļŋ614
-60.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58á2,321
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-67.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06á8,289
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-25.09%
ð Getting Around
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.40āļŋ45.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12āļŋ101
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76á3,072
$1.00āļŋ32.48
-24.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.89á19.7K
$14.09āļŋ458
-65.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11á4,481
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-17.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Ká139.6M
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
27.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4Ká158.8M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
19.70%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.3á295.5K
$125āļŋ4,063
-41.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94á23.9K
$13.57āļŋ441
-56.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62á79.1K
$18.52āļŋ602
5.94%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.13á40.8K
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-83.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84āļŋ547
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.48á26.1K
$9.19āļŋ299
-29.49%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407á1.6M
$698āļŋ22.7K
-41.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,501á10.1M
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-83.96%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.04á40.5K
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-82.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.34á73.9K
$35.24āļŋ1,146
-47.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.2á222.4K
$113āļŋ3,677
-51.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.46á147.0K
$86.4āļŋ2,808
-57.79%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$403á1.6M
$616āļŋ20.0K
-34.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123á494.7K
$446āļŋ14.5K
-72.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$560á2.3M
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-72.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301á1.2M
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-79.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kampong Cham
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524āļŋ17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
5.33
237.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kampong Cham: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $403 in Kampong Cham and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $24.00 in Kampong Cham vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $292 per month, with Kampong Cham 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
Kampong Cham vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kampong Cham and Phuket?
Kampong Cham and Phuket differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($592 vs $1,232 including rent). Kampong Cham is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Kampong Cham compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $888 in Kampong Cham and $1,847 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 apartment prices compare in Kampong Cham and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $403 in Kampong Cham versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kampong Cham or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $592 per month in Kampong Cham versus $1,232 in Phuket â a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $592 in Kampong Cham versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kampong Cham but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kampong Cham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kampong Cham and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kampong Cham or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kampong Cham 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: Kampong Cham or Phuket?
Expats usually find Kampong Cham gentler on the wallet â expenses run 108% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kampong Cham vs other spots: cost of living compared