For one person, living is cheaper in Khoy: $355 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Khoy and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $355 in Khoy versus $1,294 in Phuket.
Khoy $355
Phuket $1,294
Estimated couple costs with rent: $722 in Khoy versus $2,204 in Phuket.
Khoy $722
Phuket $2,204
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,089 in Khoy versus $3,115 in Phuket.
Khoy $1,089
Phuket $3,115
🌍
Living in Khoy costs roughly 73% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Khoy74% lower, Phuket4% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80$1.80
$4.39฿147
-59.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.99$14.99
$32.31฿1,078
-53.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.56$3.56
$8.70฿290
-59.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.77$0.77
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25$1.25
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.08$1.08
$2.72฿90.9
-60.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52$0.52
$0.93฿31.06
-44.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11$1.11
$0.50฿16.67
122.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.53฿84.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70$0.70
$1.74฿58.1
-59.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51$0.51
$1.45฿48.42
-64.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07$2.07
$1.50฿50.1
38.00%
Eggs
$1.25$1.25
$2.17฿72.5
-42.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$19.09฿637
-76.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57$3.57
$3.40฿113
5.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.07$10.07
$10.90฿364
-7.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01$1.01
$2.94฿98.2
-65.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43$1.43
$1.69฿56.5
-15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16$1.16
$2.19฿73.2
-47.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68$0.68
$2.12฿70.9
-67.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55$0.55
$1.46฿48.68
-62.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64$0.64
$1.37฿45.66
-53.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51$0.51
$1.08฿35.91
-52.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27$0.27
$0.55฿18.21
-50.91%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.79$0.79
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51$0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41$1.41
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56$2.56
$4.43฿148
-42.21%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.25฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77฿59.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88฿96.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17$0.17
$1.45฿48.32
-88.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.62$9.62
$54.9฿1,832
-82.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42$0.42
$1.51฿50.5
-72.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32$0.32
$0.78฿25.90
-58.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.98$2.98
$3.84฿128
-22.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.49฿49.65
-93.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K$50.8K
$26.9K฿897.3K
88.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K$45.3K
$26.3K฿879.4K
72.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.78$12.78
$97.8฿3,265
-86.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.05$2.05
$11.29฿377
-81.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.82$3.82
$17.19฿574
-77.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.62$18.62
$68.3฿2,281
-72.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.17$14.17
$10.92฿365
29.76%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04$2.04
$7.43฿248
-72.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106$106
$530฿17.7K
-79.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,677$2,677
$18.8K฿626.9K
-85.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.95$22.95
$61.7฿2,059
-62.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.37$28.37
$28.25฿943
0.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1$97.1
$96.0฿3,204
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.00$27.00
$86.8฿2,898
-68.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$90.7$90.7
$721฿24.1K
-87.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$60.6$60.6
$509฿17.0K
-88.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$799$799
$1,950฿65.1K
-59.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361$361
$1,397฿46.6K
-74.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,146$1,146
$4,192฿139.9K
-72.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$527$527
$3,298฿110.1K
-84.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khoy
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213$213
$492฿16.4K
-56.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.3
5.57
336.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khoy: November 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Khoy
$117 32.9%
Phuket
$267 20.6% ↑ 128%$150
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
$79 22.3%
Phuket
$123 9.5% ↑ 55.5%$44
🏠Accommodation & Living
Khoy
$61 17.1%
Phuket
$509 39.3% ↑ 740%$448
🍽Eating Out
Khoy
$45 12.6%
Phuket
$120 9.2% ↑ 168%$75
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
$23 6.4%
Phuket
$83 6.4% ↑ 267%$60
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
$19 5.3%
Phuket
$126 9.8% ↑ 577%$108
🚌Getting Around
Khoy
$12 3.5%
Phuket
$66 5.1% ↑ 438%$54
🛒Groceries & Markets
Khoy
$287 26.3%
Phuket
$602 19.3% ↑ 110%$316
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
$175 16.1%
Phuket
$273 8.8% ↑ 55.5%$97
🏠Accommodation & Living
Khoy
$361 33.1%
Phuket
$1.4K 44.8% ↑ 287%$1K
🍽Eating Out
Khoy
$161 14.8%
Phuket
$393 12.6% ↑ 144%$232
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
$60 5.5%
Phuket
$177 5.7% ↑ 198%$118
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
$21 1.9%
Phuket
$138 4.4% ↑ 564%$117
🚌Getting Around
Khoy
$25 2.3%
Phuket
$135 4.3% ↑ 442%$110
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91 in Khoy and $721 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays about 2.3 times 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: $15 in Khoy vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $267 per month, with Khoy cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Khoy vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Khoy and in Phuket?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $355 in Khoy and $1,294 in Phuket, so Khoy is about 73% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 57% lower in Khoy. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Khoy and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $91 in Khoy versus $721 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khoy – a meal for two runs $15 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Khoy or Phuket?
All in, you’ll spend $355 per month in Khoy versus $1,294 in Phuket – Khoy is about 73% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $355 in Khoy versus $1,294 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Khoy but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Khoy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Khoy and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Khoy or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Khoy and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Khoy or Phuket?
Expats usually find Khoy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.