ðA single person spends $607 per month in Kampong Thom vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $960 per month in Kampong Thom vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,312 per month in Kampong Thom vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
ðKampong Thom is about 52% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
ðBoth Kampong Thom and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Kampong Thom55% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.87á19.4K
$4.66āļŋ151
4.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.52á117.8K
$46.44āļŋ1,505
-36.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.86á27.4K
$8.68āļŋ281
-20.97%
Cappuccino
$2.54á10.1K
$2.95āļŋ95.5
-13.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00á3,978
$0.70āļŋ22.65
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99á3,969
$0.39āļŋ12.77
153.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48á5,898
$2.53āļŋ82.1
-41.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46á9,814
$3.78āļŋ122
-34.92%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14á8,529
$2.22āļŋ71.8
-3.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47á5,866
$1.80āļŋ58.2
-18.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97á3,883
$2.19āļŋ70.8
-55.71%
Eggs
$1.75á6,989
$2.31āļŋ74.9
-24.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.78á51.0K
$19.34āļŋ627
-33.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.00á16.0K
$3.77āļŋ122
6.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.27á41.0K
$13.22āļŋ428
-22.31%
Apples(1kg)
$4.40á17.5K
$3.33āļŋ108
32.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53á6,123
$1.65āļŋ53.4
-7.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78á15.1K
$2.29āļŋ74.2
65.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47á5,874
$1.99āļŋ64.4
-26.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69á6,734
$1.53āļŋ49.51
10.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20á4,808
$1.51āļŋ49.04
-20.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45á5,779
$1.03āļŋ33.30
40.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68á2,694
$0.51āļŋ16.66
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02á8,078
$4.41āļŋ143
-54.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86á47.3K
$19.41āļŋ629
-38.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04á4,155
$1.80āļŋ58.3
-42.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68á6,690
$2.68āļŋ86.8
-37.31%
ð Getting Around
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.43āļŋ46.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70āļŋ379
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06á4,244
$3.04āļŋ98.4
-65.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99á3,948
$1.04āļŋ33.56
-4.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.44á17.7K
$13.68āļŋ443
-67.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17á4,682
$1.30āļŋ42.08
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2Ká196.5M
$27.9Kāļŋ903.9K
76.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5Ká145.7M
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
10.54%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106á423.6K
$123āļŋ3,984
-13.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43á25.7K
$13.82āļŋ448
-53.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.32á93.1K
$18.86āļŋ611
23.65%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.2āļŋ1,981
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.81āļŋ545
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.60á18.4K
$8.87āļŋ287
-48.14%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$379á1.5M
$696āļŋ22.6K
-45.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3Ká44.9M
$16.1Kāļŋ520.3K
-29.94%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.51á89.8K
$59.3āļŋ1,921
-62.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.46á89.6K
$34.85āļŋ1,129
-35.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0á355.0K
$113āļŋ3,667
-21.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9á291.0K
$85.1āļŋ2,756
-14.26%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$615āļŋ19.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$448āļŋ14.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,085āļŋ67.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,496āļŋ48.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,734āļŋ121.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,662āļŋ86.2K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kampong Thom
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534āļŋ17.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.3
5.33
93.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kampong Thom: April 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Kampong Thom versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Kampong Thom versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $291 â making Kampong Thom 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
Kampong Thom vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Kampong Thom?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 109%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $910 per month in Kampong Thom and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Kampong Thom vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $607 in Kampong Thom and $1,270 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $379 per month in Kampong Thom and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kampong Thom or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kampong Thom, where all-in costs run around $607, than in Phuket at $1,270. In Kampong Thom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kampong Thom or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kampong Thom â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kampong Thom or 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kampong Thom. 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.
Kampong Thom vs other spots: cost of living compared