Cost of Living Comparison Between Luanda and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Luanda and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,251 in Luanda versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,350 in Luanda versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,449 in Luanda versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Luanda is roughly 2% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Luanda 7% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.01 AOA 5,550
$4.63 ฿151
29.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.20 AOA 44.5K
$46.84 ฿1,532
2.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 AOA 7,274
$8.84 ฿289
-10.97%
Cappuccino
$3.65 AOA 3,367
$3.00 ฿98.0
21.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 AOA 1,536
$0.74 ฿24.25
124.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AOA 974
$0.37 ฿11.95
183.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 AOA 1,459
$2.44 ฿79.8
-35.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 AOA 1,650
$3.61 ฿118
-50.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 AOA 1,840
$2.26 ฿73.9
-11.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 AOA 1,069
$1.84 ฿60.1
-36.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 AOA 1,314
$2.24 ฿73.4
-36.61%
Eggs
$2.13 AOA 1,965
$2.32 ฿75.7
-8.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 AOA 11.5K
$19.67 ฿643
-36.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 AOA 5,385
$3.65 ฿119
59.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.63 AOA 8,895
$13.10 ฿428
-26.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 AOA 2,335
$3.39 ฿111
-25.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 AOA 1,017
$1.64 ฿53.7
-32.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 AOA 2,862
$2.41 ฿79.0
28.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 AOA 1,883
$2.03 ฿66.4
0.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 AOA 1,620
$1.56 ฿50.9
12.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 AOA 1,425
$1.50 ฿48.94
2.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 AOA 1,814
$1.02 ฿33.50
92.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 AOA 386
$0.49 ฿16.00
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.31 AOA 2,136
$4.45 ฿145
-48.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.45 AOA 6,885
$18.88 ฿617
-60.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 AOA 548
$1.78 ฿58.1
-66.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 AOA 1,216
$2.75 ฿90.1
-52.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 AOA 311
$1.40 ฿45.81
-75.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.06 AOA 30.5K
$11.48 ฿376
187.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 AOA 1,074
$3.12 ฿102
-62.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 AOA 829
$1.00 ฿32.67
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 AOA 5,477
$14.09 ฿461
-57.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.35 AOA 326
$1.35 ฿44.19
-74.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K AOA 18.6M
$27.2K ฿888.9K
-26.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K AOA 26.2M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-13.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.2 AOA 89.8K
$125 ฿4,087
-22.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.53 AOA 19.0K
$13.57 ฿444
51.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$133 AOA 122.9K
$18.52 ฿606
618.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.79 AOA 40.5K
$61.5 ฿2,010
-28.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 AOA 13.3K
$16.84 ฿551
-14.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 AOA 4,258
$9.19 ฿300
-49.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$705 AOA 651.3K
$698 ฿22.8K
0.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K AOA 13.8M
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-3.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.5 AOA 89.2K
$57.8 ฿1,889
67.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.9 AOA 72.0K
$35.24 ฿1,152
121.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 AOA 120.6K
$113 ฿3,699
15.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$258 AOA 238.6K
$86.4 ฿2,825
198.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 AOA 480.7K
$616 ฿20.1K
-15.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 AOA 265.5K
$446 ฿14.6K
-35.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,356 AOA 2.2M
$2,048 ฿67.0K
15.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 AOA 1.2M
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-11.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.9K AOA 11.9M
$3,779 ฿123.6K
241.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$880 AOA 812.7K
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-66.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luanda
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,400 AOA 1.3M
$524 ฿17.1K
167.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24
5.33
350.28%

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

Last update for Luanda: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $520 in Luanda and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Luanda pays 167% 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: $48.00 in Luanda vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $292, with Luanda cheaper for home cooking.

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
Luanda vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Luanda and Phuket?
Luanda and Phuket differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,251 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Luanda or Phuket?
Luanda pays 167% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Luanda and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $520 in Luanda versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Luanda and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 188% less than in Luanda. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Luanda and Phuket?
Childcare runs $705 in Luanda versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,251 in Luanda, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Luanda. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Luanda and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Luanda or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Luanda 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.
Where should expats move: Luanda or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Luanda. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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