Cost of Living Comparison Between Knysna and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Knysna and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,128 per month in Knysna vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,643 per month in Knysna vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,157 per month in Knysna vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Knysna is about 11% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Knysna and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Knysna 16% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.36 R 138

$4.70 ฿154

77.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.43 R 603

$45.37 ฿1,489

-19.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 R 79.0

$8.43 ฿277

-43.42%

Cappuccino

$2.22 R 36.77

$2.93 ฿96.1

-24.23%

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

$1.10 R 18.20

$0.69 ฿22.50

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 R 12.94

$0.37 ฿12.04

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 R 35.69

$2.41 ฿79.0

-10.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 R 36.71

$3.72 ฿122

-40.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 R 19.35

$2.23 ฿73.3

-47.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 R 14.66

$1.83 ฿60.1

-51.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 R 27.38

$2.17 ฿71.1

-23.96%

Eggs

$2.62 R 43.35

$2.21 ฿72.6

18.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 R 161

$19.74 ฿648

-50.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 R 72.3

$3.63 ฿119

20.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.70 R 111

$13.53 ฿444

-50.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 R 23.46

$3.28 ฿108

-56.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 R 27.73

$1.61 ฿52.9

3.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 R 20.51

$2.41 ฿79.0

-48.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 R 26.18

$2.08 ฿68.4

-24.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 R 24.22

$1.53 ฿50.2

-4.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 R 23.17

$1.48 ฿48.58

-5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 R 18.08

$0.99 ฿32.44

10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 R 15.58

$0.51 ฿16.74

84.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 R 45.36

$4.41 ฿145

-37.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.84 R 80.2

$19.38 ฿636

-75.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 R 23.16

$1.78 ฿58.4

-21.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 R 27.35

$2.71 ฿89.0

-39.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 R 27.00

$1.37 ฿44.99

18.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿374

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 R 18.12

$3.02 ฿99.1

-63.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 R 15.48

$0.99 ฿32.63

-6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.01 R 66.4

$14.10 ฿463

-71.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 R 22.58

$1.36 ฿44.71

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

$22.4K R 371.6K

$28.2K ฿925.3K

-20.44%

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

$21.8K R 360.8K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-33.79%

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

$87.4 R 1,447

$122 ฿3,993

-28.18%

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

$22.16 R 367

$13.57 ฿445

63.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.18 R 682

$18.31 ฿601

124.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.74 R 741

$60.2 ฿1,976

-25.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 R 114

$8.69 ฿285

-20.94%

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

$236 R 3,913

$693 ฿22.8K

-65.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,327 R 71.7K

$15.7K ฿514.7K

-72.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 R 824

$59.5 ฿1,953

-16.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.15 R 532

$34.77 ฿1,141

-7.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 R 1,818

$115 ฿3,760

-4.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 R 1,306

$83.3 ฿2,733

-5.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 R 7,873

$613 ฿20.1K

-22.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 R 7,366

$437 ฿14.3K

1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$770 R 12.7K

$2,094 ฿68.7K

-63.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 R 11.9K

$1,509 ฿49.5K

-52.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,050 R 17.4K

$3,749 ฿123.0K

-72.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,037 R 17.2K

$2,616 ฿85.8K

-60.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$955 R 15.8K

$508 ฿16.7K

87.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.25

5.33

129.83%

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

Last update for Knysna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Knysna 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 88% higher in Knysna, 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 $36.00 in Knysna versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $293 – making Knysna 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

Knysna vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,692 per month in Knysna and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,128 in Knysna and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $236 per month in Knysna and $693 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 Knysna, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Knysna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Knysna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Knysna. 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.