Cost of Living Comparison Between Koura and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Koura and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in Koura vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,747 per month in Koura vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,357 per month in Koura vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Koura is about 9% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Koura and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Koura 15% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.94 LBP 979.3K
$4.55 ฿153
140.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 LBP 5.5M
$46.18 ฿1,554
32.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 LBP 712.2K
$8.84 ฿298
-9.95%
Cappuccino
$3.29 LBP 294.4K
$3.06 ฿103
7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 LBP 140.2K
$0.73 ฿24.42
115.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 79.4K
$0.40 ฿13.40
122.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 LBP 310.6K
$2.43 ฿81.8
42.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 LBP 440.9K
$3.78 ฿127
30.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LBP 152.4K
$2.26 ฿76.0
-24.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 LBP 71.0K
$1.81 ฿60.9
-56.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 LBP 155.8K
$2.25 ฿75.8
-22.67%
Eggs
$3.20 LBP 286.4K
$2.25 ฿75.6
42.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 LBP 1.0M
$19.51 ฿656
-41.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 LBP 838.2K
$3.65 ฿123
156.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.65 LBP 1.0M
$13.05 ฿439
-10.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 LBP 163.1K
$3.23 ฿109
-43.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 LBP 131.7K
$1.62 ฿54.4
-9.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 LBP 101.3K
$2.38 ฿80.2
-52.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 LBP 94.7K
$2.03 ฿68.2
-47.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 LBP 89.2K
$1.53 ฿51.6
-34.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 LBP 92.7K
$1.50 ฿50.5
-30.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 LBP 79.3K
$0.98 ฿32.93
-9.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 LBP 47.2K
$0.52 ฿17.40
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48 LBP 221.9K
$4.44 ฿149
-44.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 LBP 884.6K
$18.32 ฿616
-46.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 LBP 109.6K
$1.86 ฿62.7
-34.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 LBP 197.2K
$2.68 ฿90.2
-17.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Koura
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 LBP 184.3K
$1.41 ฿47.49
46.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿394
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 LBP 450.9K
$3.11 ฿105
62.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 LBP 109.8K
$1.04 ฿35.08
18.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.17 LBP 1.8M
$14.11 ฿475
42.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 LBP 84.2K
$1.31 ฿44.13
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K LBP 3.1B
$27.8K ฿936.0K
24.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K LBP 2.5B
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-15.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 LBP 19.0M
$122 ฿4,120
73.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.90 LBP 3.4M
$13.59 ฿457
178.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.12 LBP 3.3M
$18.70 ฿629
98.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.12 LBP 2.2M
$60.5 ฿2,035
-58.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 LBP 704.5K
$9.07 ฿305
-13.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 LBP 26.8M
$706 ฿23.8K
-57.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,434 LBP 396.8M
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-71.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 LBP 6.4M
$58.6 ฿1,970
22.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 LBP 4.0M
$35.36 ฿1,190
26.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 LBP 10.9M
$115 ฿3,885
5.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6 LBP 8.3M
$83.7 ฿2,818
10.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koura
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 LBP 22.0M
$626 ฿21.1K
-60.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 LBP 17.9M
$445 ฿15.0K
-54.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 LBP 39.9M
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-78.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 LBP 31.5M
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-76.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,156 LBP 103.5M
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-66.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$844 LBP 75.5M
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-67.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koura
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$594 LBP 53.2M
$500 ฿16.8K
18.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
5.33
109.38%

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

Last update for Koura: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Koura versus $626 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 19% higher in Koura, 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 $61.0 in Koura versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Koura vs $289 in Phuket – so Koura wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Koura vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koura or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 10% more than Koura, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Koura and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,706 per month in Koura and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Koura or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Koura compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,137 in Koura and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Koura and in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Koura and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Koura or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Koura, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Koura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Koura or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Koura costs $1,137 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Koura compared to 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.
Should I move to Koura or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Koura. 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.

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