Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitakyushu and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitakyushu and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,233 per month in Kitakyushu vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,926 per month in Kitakyushu vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,620 per month in Kitakyushu vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Kitakyushu and Phuket have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Kitakyushu and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kitakyushu 10% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ¥1,128

$4.41 ฿147

63.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.59 ¥5,246

$32.26 ฿1,073

4.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ¥867

$8.93 ฿297

-37.85%

Cappuccino

$3.37 ¥526

$2.90 ฿96.3

16.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ¥162

$0.88 ฿29.27

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥109

$0.48 ฿16.00

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ¥463

$2.35 ฿78.2

26.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ¥352

$3.72 ฿124

-39.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ¥239

$1.87 ฿62.0

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ¥204

$1.47 ฿48.75

-10.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.55 ¥867

$1.55 ฿51.6

258.06%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥354

$2.10 ฿69.9

7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 ¥1,559

$19.59 ฿651

-49.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 ¥857

$3.42 ฿114

60.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.18 ¥2,996

$11.38 ฿378

68.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 ¥579

$2.98 ฿99.2

24.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ¥289

$1.68 ฿56.0

10.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 ¥450

$2.21 ฿73.5

30.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 ¥464

$2.16 ฿71.9

37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ¥354

$1.52 ฿50.7

48.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ¥406

$1.34 ฿44.49

94.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ¥171

$1.13 ฿37.53

-3.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥147

$0.55 ฿18.17

70.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 ¥631

$4.26 ฿142

-5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.40 ¥1,000

$19.09 ฿635

-66.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ¥278

$1.78 ฿59.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ¥276

$2.78 ฿92.5

-36.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥257

$2.23 ฿74.1

-26.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.2 ¥9,094

$22.74 ฿756

156.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.03 ฿101

29.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 ¥322

$1.02 ฿34.02

101.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.42 ¥2,876

$3.89 ฿129

373.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ¥165

$1.49 ฿49.57

-28.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ¥3.3M

$26.6K ฿883.8K

-19.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.6K ¥2.8M

$27.0K ฿898.7K

-34.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$195 ¥30.5K

$102 ฿3,407

90.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.26 ¥3,944

$11.33 ฿377

122.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.60 ¥5,248

$17.40 ฿578

93.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 ¥8,171

$52.1 ฿1,732

0.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.15 ¥493

$11.07 ฿368

-71.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 ¥1,798

$7.69 ฿256

49.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$389 ¥60.8K

$561 ฿18.6K

-30.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ¥1.9M

$11.5K ฿382.6K

7.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.38 ¥6,151

$63.0 ฿2,096

-37.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.50 ¥3,826

$29.52 ฿982

-17.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ¥9,473

$98.0 ฿3,259

-38.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.25 ¥7,535

$88.5 ฿2,943

-45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 ¥81.2K

$738 ฿24.5K

-29.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 ¥51.7K

$482 ฿16.0K

-31.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 ¥163.9K

$2,107 ฿70.0K

-50.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$739 ¥115.4K

$1,226 ฿40.8K

-39.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,702 ¥578.1K

$3,617 ฿120.3K

2.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 ¥277.3K

$2,603 ฿86.5K

-31.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,527 ¥238.4K

$494 ฿16.4K

209.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.69

5.57

-69.66%

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

Last update for Kitakyushu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Kitakyushu versus $738 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 209% higher in Kitakyushu. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Kitakyushu versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $274 – making Phuket 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

Kitakyushu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,850 per month in Kitakyushu and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Kitakyushu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Kitakyushu and $561 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Kitakyushu at $1,233. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kitakyushu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kitakyushu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,233 in Kitakyushu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kitakyushu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.