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: $1,049 in Lome versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Lome versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,954 in Lome versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Lome costs roughly 16% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lome 21% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.17 F CFA 1,248
$4.55 ฿153
-52.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.09 F CFA 18.4K
$46.18 ฿1,553
-30.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.16 F CFA 2,964
$8.84 ฿297
-41.63%
Cappuccino
$5.62 F CFA 3,229
$3.06 ฿103
83.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 F CFA 1,984
$0.73 ฿24.40
373.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 F CFA 636
$0.40 ฿13.39
177.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 F CFA 493
$2.43 ฿81.8
-64.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 F CFA 1,034
$3.78 ฿127
-52.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 F CFA 1,390
$2.26 ฿76.0
7.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 F CFA 751
$1.81 ฿60.9
-27.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 F CFA 1,037
$2.25 ฿75.8
-19.56%
Eggs
$2.06 F CFA 1,186
$2.25 ฿75.5
-8.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.16 F CFA 8,128
$19.51 ฿656
-27.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.21 F CFA 4,711
$3.65 ฿123
124.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.37 F CFA 5,381
$13.05 ฿439
-28.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 F CFA 1,532
$3.23 ฿109
-17.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 F CFA 819
$1.62 ฿54.4
-11.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 F CFA 1,506
$2.38 ฿80.1
10.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 F CFA 1,447
$2.03 ฿68.1
24.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 F CFA 1,033
$1.53 ฿51.6
17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 F CFA 1,004
$1.50 ฿50.5
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 F CFA 313
$0.98 ฿32.91
-43.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 F CFA 497
$0.52 ฿17.39
67.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43 F CFA 821
$4.44 ฿149
-67.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.66 F CFA 2,676
$18.32 ฿616
-74.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 F CFA 794
$1.86 ฿62.7
-25.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 F CFA 901
$2.68 ฿90.1
-41.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lome
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 F CFA 194
$1.41 ฿47.46
-75.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 F CFA 30.9K
$11.70 ฿393
360.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 F CFA 1,173
$3.11 ฿105
-34.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 F CFA 421
$1.04 ฿35.06
-29.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 F CFA 3,008
$14.11 ฿474
-62.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 F CFA 720
$1.31 ฿44.10
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1K F CFA 8.1M
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-49.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K F CFA 14.8M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-22.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 F CFA 102.4K
$122 ฿4,118
45.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.67 F CFA 12.4K
$13.59 ฿457
59.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.41 F CFA 24.9K
$18.70 ฿629
132.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.00 F CFA 28.1K
$60.5 ฿2,034
-18.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.73 F CFA 5,013
$16.98 ฿571
-48.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.29 F CFA 2,465
$9.07 ฿305
-52.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 F CFA 99.3K
$706 ฿23.8K
-75.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,151 F CFA 3.0M
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-67.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.78 F CFA 14.2K
$58.6 ฿1,969
-57.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.41 F CFA 15.7K
$35.36 ฿1,189
-22.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.82 F CFA 23.4K
$115 ฿3,883
-64.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 F CFA 55.2K
$83.7 ฿2,816
14.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lome
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 F CFA 208.6K
$626 ฿21.0K
-41.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 F CFA 126.6K
$445 ฿15.0K
-50.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$757 F CFA 434.6K
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-62.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 F CFA 173.4K
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-79.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lome
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$261 F CFA 149.9K
$500 ฿16.8K
-47.78%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Lome and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 92% 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: $32.00 in Lome vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $289 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 19% 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 in Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Phuket. 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 compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $363 in Lome versus $626 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 in Phuket?
Childcare runs $173 in Lome versus $706 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 in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% 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 in Phuket?
At $1,049 in Lome versus $1,250 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 $1,049 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 19% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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