Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,428 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,886 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,345 per month in Mata Utu vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 329% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 305% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.46 CFPF 1,171

$4.70 ฿153

143.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$115 CFPF 11.7K

$45.37 ฿1,482

153.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$8.16 CFPF 833

$2.93 ฿95.6

178.50%

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

$5.70 CFPF 583

$0.69 ฿22.40

726.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CFPF 352

$0.37 ฿11.99

829.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 CFPF 584

$3.72 ฿122

53.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.35 CFPF 1,159

$0.99 ฿32.29

1046.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.61 CFPF 471

$0.51 ฿16.67

803.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.13 CFPF 1,749

$4.41 ฿144

288.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 CFPF 1,758

$19.38 ฿633

-11.20%

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)

$1.37 ฿44.79

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)

$1.96 CFPF 201

$1.36 ฿44.51

44.12%

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)

$151 CFPF 15.4K

$122 ฿3,975

24.14%

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

$114 CFPF 11.7K

$13.57 ฿443

743.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,490 CFPF 356.5K

$18.31 ฿598

18962.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

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)

$230 CFPF 23.5K

$59.5 ฿1,944

286.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$93.0 CFPF 9,504

$34.77 ฿1,136

167.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$229 CFPF 23.3K

$115 ฿3,743

99.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$295 CFPF 30.1K

$83.3 ฿2,720

253.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$925 CFPF 94.5K

$613 ฿20.0K

50.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$927 CFPF 94.7K

$437 ฿14.3K

112.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CFPF 238.9K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

11.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 CFPF 238.5K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

54.70%

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)

$3,530 CFPF 360.6K

$508 ฿16.6K

594.66%

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 Mata Utu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $925 in Mata Utu versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 595% higher in Mata Utu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mata Utu versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $135 in Mata Utu vs $293 in Phuket – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mata Utu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $5,428 in Mata Utu, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 329% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,141 per month in Mata Utu and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mata Utu and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $5,428 in Mata Utu and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Mata Utu at $5,428. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $5,428 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.