Cost of Living Comparison Between Lira and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Lira and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $427 per month in Lira vs $1,223 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $685 per month in Lira vs $2,237 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $943 per month in Lira vs $3,251 in Phuket, rent included.

Lira is about 65% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lira and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Lira 68% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 UGX 10.4K

$4.51 ฿147

-37.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.05 UGX 96.4K

$46.62 ฿1,515

-44.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 UGX 32.8K

$8.49 ฿276

4.36%

Cappuccino

$2.80 UGX 10.4K

$3.08 ฿100

-9.09%

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

$0.29 UGX 1,086

$0.68 ฿22.07

-57.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 UGX 993

$0.36 ฿11.75

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 UGX 2,974

$2.43 ฿78.8

-67.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

$3.63 ฿118

-24.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 UGX 2,626

$2.19 ฿71.1

-67.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 UGX 4,592

$1.81 ฿59.0

-31.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 4,988

$2.23 ฿72.5

-39.46%

Eggs

$1.84 UGX 6,827

$2.24 ฿72.7

-17.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 15.9K

$19.60 ฿637

-78.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 UGX 18.1K

$3.72 ฿121

31.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 UGX 15.4K

$13.47 ฿438

-69.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 UGX 9,893

$3.36 ฿109

-20.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 UGX 5,712

$1.62 ฿52.5

-4.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 UGX 6,175

$2.41 ฿78.3

-30.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 5,913

$1.99 ฿64.6

-19.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,120

$1.53 ฿49.76

7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UGX 7,175

$1.45 ฿47.19

33.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,939

$1.01 ฿32.96

4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 UGX 2,120

$0.48 ฿15.73

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

$4.27 ฿139

-30.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.16 UGX 33.9K

$19.12 ฿621

-52.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,386

$1.84 ฿59.7

-35.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 UGX 7,604

$2.74 ฿89.1

-25.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,149

$3.00 ฿97.6

-80.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,046

$1.05 ฿34.00

-73.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 UGX 15.0K

$13.90 ฿452

-70.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,497

$1.29 ฿41.94

15.50%

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

$8,985 UGX 33.3M

$28.0K ฿911.1K

-67.95%

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

$8,866 UGX 32.8M

$33.5K ฿1.1M

-73.54%

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

$42.61 UGX 157.7K

$122 ฿3,964

-65.07%

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

$14.17 UGX 52.4K

$13.93 ฿453

1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.74 UGX 165.6K

$18.87 ฿613

137.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 UGX 23.2K

$8.89 ฿289

-29.47%

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

$160 UGX 592.7K

$691 ฿22.5K

-76.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,295 UGX 15.9M

$16.2K ฿525.2K

-73.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.32 UGX 64.1K

$57.8 ฿1,878

-70.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.03 UGX 51.9K

$35.39 ฿1,150

-60.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.66 UGX 143.1K

$113 ฿3,685

-65.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.97 UGX 173.8K

$83.0 ฿2,698

-43.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

5.33

290.24%

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

Last update for Lira: June 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Lira versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $292 – making Lira 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

Lira vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 186%, 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 $641 per month in Lira and $1,835 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $427 in Lira and $1,223 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $160 per month in Lira and $691 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 Lira, where all-in costs run around $427, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Lira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lira – 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 Lira. 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.