Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaลกtela and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaลกtela and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Kaลกtela versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,908 in Kaลกtela versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Kaลกtela is roughly 8% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kaลกtela is 1% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.04 โ‚ฌ13.82
$4.56 เธฟ149
251.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 โ‚ฌ69.6
$46.63 เธฟ1,519
73.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 โ‚ฌ7.86
$8.47 เธฟ276
7.67%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.49
$3.03 เธฟ98.6
-4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 โ‚ฌ2.93
$0.69 เธฟ22.45
392.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 โ‚ฌ2.18
$0.37 เธฟ11.92
583.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 โ‚ฌ3.89
$2.49 เธฟ81.0
81.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.28
$3.66 เธฟ119
4.10%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.19
$2.18 เธฟ71.0
-36.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 โ‚ฌ1.36
$1.90 เธฟ62.0
-17.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 โ‚ฌ2.69
$2.20 เธฟ71.6
41.82%
Eggs
$3.92 โ‚ฌ3.38
$2.22 เธฟ72.4
76.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 โ‚ฌ8.66
$19.99 เธฟ651
-49.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.40 โ‚ฌ8.10
$3.66 เธฟ119
156.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.85 โ‚ฌ11.07
$13.25 เธฟ432
-3.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$3.23 เธฟ105
-44.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.46
$1.70 เธฟ55.3
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 โ‚ฌ1.86
$2.39 เธฟ78.0
-9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 โ‚ฌ1.96
$2.08 เธฟ67.7
9.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 โ‚ฌ1.32
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
-3.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 โ‚ฌ1.20
$1.48 เธฟ48.31
-5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 โ‚ฌ1.17
$1.03 เธฟ33.54
32.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 โ‚ฌ1.08
$0.52 เธฟ16.83
140.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ5.04
$4.25 เธฟ138
37.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 โ‚ฌ6.47
$18.79 เธฟ612
-60.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 โ‚ฌ1.15
$1.76 เธฟ57.2
-23.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 โ‚ฌ0.97
$2.76 เธฟ89.8
-59.06%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$1.36 เธฟ44.32
73.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.44 โ‚ฌ32.26
$11.36 เธฟ370
229.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 โ‚ฌ3.05
$3.14 เธฟ102
12.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.83
$1.04 เธฟ33.74
103.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 โ‚ฌ7.78
$13.77 เธฟ448
-34.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$1.34 เธฟ43.79
33.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K โ‚ฌ33.1K
$27.7K เธฟ901.4K
38.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.9K
$33.9K เธฟ1.1M
-21.59%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 โ‚ฌ158
$124 เธฟ4,025
48.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.81 โ‚ฌ20.52
$13.52 เธฟ440
76.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 โ‚ฌ21.57
$18.69 เธฟ609
33.98%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 โ‚ฌ50.4
$61.8 เธฟ2,013
-5.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.43 โ‚ฌ12.44
$17.25 เธฟ562
-16.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35 โ‚ฌ8.06
$9.14 เธฟ298
2.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$188 โ‚ฌ162
$703 เธฟ22.9K
-73.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,363 โ‚ฌ1,174
$15.9K เธฟ517.0K
-91.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 โ‚ฌ71.0
$59.5 เธฟ1,937
38.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53 โ‚ฌ24.58
$35.07 เธฟ1,142
-18.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 โ‚ฌ93.5
$115 เธฟ3,754
-5.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 โ‚ฌ91.2
$84.1 เธฟ2,737
25.91%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 โ‚ฌ416
$619 เธฟ20.1K
-21.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 โ‚ฌ293
$433 เธฟ14.1K
-21.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 โ‚ฌ519
$2,062 เธฟ67.2K
-70.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 โ‚ฌ475
$1,511 เธฟ49.2K
-63.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,400 โ‚ฌ2,929
$3,646 เธฟ118.7K
-6.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,500 โ‚ฌ2,154
$2,626 เธฟ85.5K
-4.79%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 โ‚ฌ765
$507 เธฟ16.5K
75.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
5.33
-18.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaลกtela: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Kaลกtela and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kaลกtela pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Kaลกtela vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $293, with Kaลกtela cheaper for home cooking.

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
Kaลกtela vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Phuket?
Kaลกtela and Phuket differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,356 vs $1,261 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kaลกtela or Phuket?
Kaลกtela pays 75% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaลกtela and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Kaลกtela versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaลกtela and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 230% less than in Kaลกtela. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaลกtela and Phuket?
Childcare runs $188 in Kaลกtela versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,356 in Kaลกtela, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kaลกtela. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela 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: Kaลกtela or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 8% less than in Kaลกtela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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