Cost of Living Comparison Between Matsudo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Matsudo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,193 in Matsudo versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,885 in Matsudo versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,576 in Matsudo versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Matsudo costs roughly 5% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Matsudo 13% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 ¥956
$4.56 ฿150
34.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.56 ¥6,312
$32.62 ฿1,073
24.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.02 ¥782
$8.90 ฿293
-43.60%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ¥515
$2.80 ฿92.2
18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ¥169
$0.88 ฿28.94
23.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥114
$0.49 ฿16.08
48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ¥378
$2.39 ฿78.5
1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ¥497
$3.71 ฿122
-13.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 ¥212
$1.79 ฿58.8
-24.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 ¥258
$1.44 ฿47.40
14.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 ¥568
$1.58 ฿52.1
131.01%
Eggs
$2.05 ¥320
$2.13 ฿69.9
-3.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.11 ¥1,730
$19.92 ฿655
-44.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 ¥927
$3.43 ฿113
73.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.51 ¥2,258
$11.33 ฿372
28.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.08 ¥791
$2.95 ฿97.0
72.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.44 ¥380
$1.72 ฿56.6
41.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 ¥433
$2.32 ฿76.5
19.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 ¥629
$2.08 ฿68.4
94.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 ¥400
$1.47 ฿48.34
74.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 ¥404
$1.36 ฿44.65
91.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ¥195
$1.10 ฿36.13
13.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥125
$0.57 ฿18.89
40.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85 ¥600
$4.27 ฿140
-9.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.33 ¥985
$18.42 ฿606
-65.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ¥266
$1.87 ฿61.5
-8.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ¥310
$2.92 ฿96.1
-31.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ¥232
$2.22 ฿73.0
-32.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 ¥8,595
$22.90 ฿753
141.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ¥482
$3.03 ฿99.6
2.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 ¥384
$1.07 ฿35.32
130.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.19 ¥2,831
$3.93 ฿129
362.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 ¥162
$1.49 ฿49.06
-30.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ¥3.3M
$27.1K ฿892.0K
-21.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥2.3M
$27.5K ฿902.6K
-45.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 ¥20.4K
$103 ฿3,380
27.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 ¥3,499
$10.99 ฿361
104.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.26 ¥4,710
$17.51 ฿576
72.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.68 ¥7,732
$53.5 ฿1,760
-7.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20 ฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 ¥1,974
$7.48 ฿246
69.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 ¥95.5K
$557 ฿18.3K
10.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ¥2.2M
$11.9K ฿389.7K
21.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 ¥8,021
$64.1 ฿2,107
-19.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.64 ¥5,079
$29.07 ฿956
12.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.3 ¥9,533
$96.0 ฿3,155
-36.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 ¥11.7K
$90.3 ฿2,970
-17.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ¥78.3K
$730 ฿24.0K
-31.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ¥50.7K
$500 ฿16.4K
-34.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥186.9K
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-42.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 ¥112.5K
$1,209 ฿39.8K
-40.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,522 ¥703.9K
$3,596 ฿118.2K
25.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,032 ¥316.2K
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-19.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matsudo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.93
5.57
-65.35%

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

Last update for Matsudo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Matsudo and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $41.00 in Matsudo vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $273 per month, with Phuket 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
Matsudo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Matsudo?
Matsudo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,790 in Matsudo and $1,880 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.
What is the rent difference between Matsudo and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Matsudo versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Matsudo runs roughly 141% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $614 in Matsudo versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Matsudo or in Phuket?
At $1,193 in Matsudo versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Matsudo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Matsudo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Matsudo or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Matsudo 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.
Which city is safer, Matsudo or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Matsudo 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Matsudo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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