Cost of Living Comparison Between Kimberley and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kimberley and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,038 per month in Kimberley vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,752 per month in Kimberley vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,466 per month in Kimberley vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Kimberley is about 18% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kimberley and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kimberley 23% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.10 R 181
$4.70 ฿153
136.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.16 R 541
$45.37 ฿1,482
-26.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.64 R 92.1
$8.43 ฿275
-33.10%
Cappuccino
$2.75 R 44.88
$2.93 ฿95.6
-6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 R 20.15
$0.69 ฿22.40
79.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 R 19.83
$0.37 ฿11.99
227.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 R 40.93
$2.41 ฿78.6
4.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 R 42.22
$3.72 ฿122
-30.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 R 24.25
$2.23 ฿72.9
-33.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 R 17.42
$1.83 ฿59.8
-41.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 R 45.59
$2.17 ฿70.8
28.57%
Eggs
$2.74 R 44.72
$2.21 ฿72.3
23.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.90 R 96.3
$19.74 ฿645
-70.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 R 88.2
$3.63 ฿119
49.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 R 130
$13.53 ฿442
-41.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 R 33.71
$3.28 ฿107
-36.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 R 35.47
$1.61 ฿52.6
34.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.69
$2.41 ฿78.6
-37.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.12 R 50.8
$2.08 ฿68.1
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 R 36.87
$1.53 ฿49.93
47.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 R 19.67
$1.48 ฿48.36
-18.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 R 20.13
$0.99 ฿32.29
24.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 R 13.43
$0.51 ฿16.67
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 R 46.75
$4.41 ฿144
-35.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.60 R 108
$19.38 ฿633
-65.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 R 34.87
$1.78 ฿58.1
20.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 R 42.60
$2.71 ฿88.6
-3.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.69 R 27.59
$1.37 ฿44.79
23.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.03 R 506
$11.39 ฿372
172.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 R 10.70
$3.02 ฿98.6
-78.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R 15.35
$0.99 ฿32.48
-5.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 R 65.1
$14.10 ฿461
-71.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R 21.70
$1.36 ฿44.51
-2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K R 351.0K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-23.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K R 383.3K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-28.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.2 R 1,570
$122 ฿3,975
-20.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.82 R 634
$13.57 ฿443
186.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.57 R 744
$18.31 ฿598
148.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.26 R 347
$60.2 ฿1,967
-64.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14 ฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.75 R 110
$8.69 ฿284
-22.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 R 2,559
$693 ฿22.6K
-77.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,319 R 70.5K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-72.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.09 R 556
$59.5 ฿1,944
-42.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.86 R 520
$34.77 ฿1,136
-8.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 R 1,352
$115 ฿3,743
-27.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 R 1,298
$83.3 ฿2,720
-4.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 R 4,068
$613 ฿20.0K
-59.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 R 5,079
$437 ฿14.3K
-28.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 R 9,525
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-72.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 R 14.4K
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-41.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$989 R 16.1K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-73.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$640 R 10.4K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-75.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kimberley
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$958 R 15.6K
$508 ฿16.6K
88.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.51
5.33
115.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kimberley: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Kimberley versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 89% higher in Kimberley, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Kimberley versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $293 – making Kimberley 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
Kimberley vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Kimberley?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,557 per month in Kimberley and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kimberley, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kimberley vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,038 in Kimberley and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 172% less in Kimberley. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kimberley or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kimberley, where all-in costs run around $1,038, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kimberley it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kimberley or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kimberley – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kimberley 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kimberley. 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.

Kimberley vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities