Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $191 in Maiduguri versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $345 in Maiduguri versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $498 in Maiduguri versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Maiduguri costs roughly 85% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maiduguri 86% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 ₦2,083

$4.70 ฿153

-67.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.78 ₦16.0K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-74.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.71 ₦3,691

$8.43 ฿275

-67.85%

Cappuccino

$1.36 ₦1,846

$2.93 ฿95.6

-53.58%

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

$0.37 ₦509

$0.69 ฿22.40

-46.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦400

$0.37 ฿11.99

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ₦1,381

$1.83 ฿59.8

-44.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,650

$2.17 ฿70.8

-10.14%

Eggs

$1.76 ₦2,397

$2.21 ฿72.3

-20.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 ₦6,910

$3.63 ฿119

39.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.99 ₦5,433

$13.53 ฿442

-70.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 ₦5,294

$3.28 ฿107

18.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₦1,379

$2.08 ฿68.1

-51.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,074

$1.53 ฿49.93

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₦1,401

$1.48 ฿48.36

-30.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ₦525

$0.99 ฿32.29

-60.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.51 ฿16.67

-39.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₦721

$1.37 ฿44.79

-61.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 ₦498

$1.36 ฿44.51

-72.79%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$7.89 ₦10.7K

$13.57 ฿443

-41.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 ₦10.7K

$17.14 ฿560

-54.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.15 ₦27.4K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-66.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.34 ₦25.0K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-47.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.49 ₦34.7K

$115 ฿3,743

-77.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.89 ₦33.9K

$83.3 ฿2,720

-70.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Maiduguri: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $12.00 in Maiduguri vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $293 per month, with Maiduguri 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

Maiduguri vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maiduguri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 561% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $287 in Maiduguri and $1,898 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 197% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Maiduguri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $191 in Maiduguri versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maiduguri but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maiduguri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maiduguri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Maiduguri 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.

Expats usually find Maiduguri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 561% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.