Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Lome versus $1,247 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,520 in Lome versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,012 in Lome versus $3,306 in Phuket.

Living in Lome costs roughly 18% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lome 24% lower, Phuket 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.18 F CFA 1,219
$4.59 ฿147
-52.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.89 F CFA 17.8K
$46.83 ฿1,501
-31.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.15 F CFA 2,876
$8.70 ฿279
-40.80%
Cappuccino
$5.90 F CFA 3,291
$2.92 ฿93.7
102.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 F CFA 1,888
$0.68 ฿21.92
397.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 F CFA 621
$0.40 ฿12.70
177.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.84 F CFA 472
$2.51 ฿80.4
-66.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 F CFA 955
$3.80 ฿122
-55.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 F CFA 1,353
$2.16 ฿69.3
12.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 F CFA 706
$1.88 ฿60.3
-32.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 F CFA 1,031
$2.16 ฿69.2
-14.35%
Eggs
$2.06 F CFA 1,148
$2.22 ฿71.2
-7.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.08 F CFA 7,859
$19.57 ฿627
-28.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.50 F CFA 4,746
$3.80 ฿122
123.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 F CFA 4,974
$13.41 ฿430
-33.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 F CFA 1,471
$3.26 ฿104
-19.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 F CFA 842
$1.61 ฿51.7
-6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 F CFA 1,504
$2.31 ฿74.0
16.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 F CFA 1,358
$2.06 ฿66.0
17.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 F CFA 1,007
$1.61 ฿51.5
11.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 F CFA 975
$1.44 ฿46.26
21.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 F CFA 289
$1.03 ฿33.01
-49.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 F CFA 479
$0.48 ฿15.39
79.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 F CFA 773
$4.50 ฿144
-69.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.83 F CFA 2,699
$19.18 ฿615
-74.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 F CFA 760
$1.82 ฿58.4
-25.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 F CFA 839
$2.69 ฿86.2
-44.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lome
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 F CFA 190
$1.38 ฿44.16
-75.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.2 F CFA 29.1K
$11.76 ฿377
343.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 F CFA 1,172
$3.11 ฿99.6
-32.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 F CFA 415
$1.00 ฿32.18
-26.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.27 F CFA 2,941
$13.74 ฿441
-61.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 F CFA 666
$1.30 ฿41.61
-8.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1K F CFA 7.9M
$27.4K ฿877.0K
-48.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K F CFA 14.3M
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-22.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 F CFA 96.0K
$125 ฿4,004
37.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.30 F CFA 12.4K
$13.74 ฿440
62.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.33 F CFA 24.2K
$18.61 ฿597
132.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.05 F CFA 27.4K
$60.6 ฿1,941
-18.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08 F CFA 5,069
$17.15 ฿550
-47.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31 F CFA 2,404
$9.01 ฿289
-52.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$178 F CFA 99.5K
$698 ฿22.4K
-74.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,148 F CFA 2.9M
$16.1K ฿516.5K
-68.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.52 F CFA 13.7K
$59.2 ฿1,898
-58.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.17 F CFA 15.2K
$34.86 ฿1,118
-22.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.81 F CFA 22.8K
$114 ฿3,662
-64.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2 F CFA 52.6K
$85.8 ฿2,751
9.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lome
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 F CFA 199.9K
$619 ฿19.8K
-42.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 F CFA 123.2K
$437 ฿14.0K
-49.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 F CFA 426.4K
$2,075 ฿66.5K
-63.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 F CFA 167.7K
$1,509 ฿48.4K
-80.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,764 ฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,694 ฿86.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$264 F CFA 147.4K
$528 ฿16.9K
-50.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.33
50.09%

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

Last update for Lome: April 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Lome and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 100% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32 in Lome vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $292 per month, with Lome cheaper across the board.

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
Lome vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lome or Phuket?
Lome wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lome the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lome or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 100% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lome vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Lome versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lome and Phuket?
Childcare runs $178 in Lome versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lome or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lome or Phuket?
At $1,028 in Lome versus $1,247 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lome but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lome the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lome or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lome delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,028 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lome hard to pass up.
How safe is Lome compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Lome and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lome gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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