Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,531 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,189 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,847 per month in Maui, HI vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Maui, HI costs about 258% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Maui, HI sits 240% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.42 $29.42

$4.48 ฿150

556.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 $108

$45.59 ฿1,520

137.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$8.76 ฿292

68.49%

Cappuccino

$6.57 $6.57

$2.97 ฿99.0

121.21%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$0.69 ฿22.89

302.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$0.39 ฿13.03

620.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$2.53 ฿84.4

216.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.75 ฿125

111.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.15 ฿71.6

-3.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.82 ฿60.5

91.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

$2.18 ฿72.9

307.34%

Eggs

$8.58 $8.58

$2.25 ฿75.0

281.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.48 $12.48

$20.00 ฿667

-37.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$3.63 ฿121

323.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.48 $22.48

$13.56 ฿452

65.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.24 ฿108

55.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.64 ฿54.6

35.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.33 ฿77.8

81.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.07 ฿69.1

131.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.55 ฿51.6

84.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.46 ฿48.53

91.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.98 ฿32.85

104.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$0.48 ฿16.09

658.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$4.35 ฿145

125.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.91 $19.91

$18.57 ฿619

7.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.86 ฿61.9

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.65 ฿88.5

21.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.42 ฿47.26

147.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 $99.6

$11.57 ฿386

761.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.17 ฿106

7.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.03 ฿34.40

-5.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$13.89 ฿463

109.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.34 ฿44.83

-4.48%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$27.8K ฿926.8K

33.12%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-14.14%

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

$392 $392

$123 ฿4,104

218.30%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$13.77 ฿459

341.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 $73.0

$18.33 ฿611

298.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.50 $30.50

$60.7 ฿2,024

-49.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$8.87 ฿296

70.35%

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

$1,619 $1,619

$688 ฿22.9K

135.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$15.8K ฿526.2K

5.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.9 $88.9

$59.3 ฿1,978

49.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$34.69 ฿1,157

56.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$115 ฿3,841

11.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$201 $201

$83.8 ฿2,793

140.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 $2,233

$621 ฿20.7K

259.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$446 ฿14.9K

500.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,616 $4,616

$2,034 ฿67.8K

126.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,913 $3,913

$1,496 ฿49.9K

161.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.3K $14.3K

$3,455 ฿115.2K

314.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,164 $9,164

$2,531 ฿84.4K

262.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,731 $5,731

$494 ฿16.5K

1061.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

5.33

24.95%

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

Last update for Maui, HI: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,233 in Maui, HI versus $621 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 1061% higher in Maui, HI, 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 $108 in Maui, HI versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $507 vs $291 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Maui, HI vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,531 in Maui, HI, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 258% apart. Maui, HI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,796 per month in Maui, HI and $1,896 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,619 per month in Maui, HI and $688 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 74% more in Maui, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Maui, HI at $4,531. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maui, HI 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 $1,264 in Phuket to $4,531 in Maui, HI. 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, Maui, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.