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 $4,713 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,600 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,487 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Maui, HI costs about 272% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Maui, HI sits 242% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.33 $34.33

$4.66 ฿154

636.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$32.22 ฿1,066

272.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$8.68 ฿287

73.50%

Cappuccino

$6.56 $6.56

$2.90 ฿95.9

126.21%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$0.84 ฿27.91

272.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$0.49 ฿16.17

469.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$2.48 ฿82.1

230.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.20 $9.20

$3.73 ฿123

146.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.89 ฿62.3

16.93%

White Bread (500g)

$8.62 $8.62

$1.41 ฿46.58

511.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.94 $8.94

$1.62 ฿53.6

451.85%

Eggs

$8.80 $8.80

$2.24 ฿74.1

292.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.28 $27.28

$19.84 ฿656

37.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$3.48 ฿115

349.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.97 $21.97

$11.37 ฿376

93.23%

Apples (1kg)

$10.14 $10.14

$2.90 ฿95.9

249.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.72 ฿57.0

26.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$2.27 ฿75.2

342.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.95 $7.95

$2.13 ฿70.5

273.24%

Potato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$1.47 ฿48.77

338.78%

Onion (1kg)

$7.86 $7.86

$1.42 ฿46.96

453.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.10 ฿36.29

360.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$0.60 ฿19.78

503.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.93 $16.93

$4.31 ฿142

292.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.68 $19.68

$18.60 ฿615

5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.80 ฿59.6

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$2.97 ฿98.1

161.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.25 ฿74.3

23.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.7 $99.7

$23.49 ฿777

324.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 $10.08

$3.10 ฿103

225.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 ฿35.59

-15.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.43 ฿47.20

-12.59%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$27.8K ฿918.9K

33.20%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$27.0K ฿892.4K

4.67%

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

$382 $382

$105 ฿3,466

264.84%

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

$61.2 $61.2

$11.39 ฿377

437.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$17.54 ฿580

324.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.01 $30.01

$54.3 ฿1,797

-44.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$7.78 ฿257

91.13%

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

$1,674 $1,674

$576 ฿19.1K

190.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K $17.0K

$11.6K ฿383.0K

46.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.7 $88.7

$63.6 ฿2,104

39.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.5 $54.5

$29.10 ฿962

87.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 $131

$96.2 ฿3,182

36.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$198 $198

$90.0 ฿2,977

120.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 $2,265

$733 ฿24.2K

208.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$501 ฿16.6K

428.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,639 $4,639

$2,126 ฿70.3K

118.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,785 $3,785

$1,252 ฿41.4K

202.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K $14.2K

$3,534 ฿116.9K

302.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,077 $9,077

$2,622 ฿86.7K

246.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,547 $5,547

$508 ฿16.8K

992.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.57

18.13%

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

Last update for Maui, HI: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,265 in Maui, HI versus $733 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 993% 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 $120 in Maui, HI versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $711 vs $275 – 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: $4,713 in Maui, HI, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 272% apart. Maui, HI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,069 per month in Maui, HI 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,674 per month in Maui, HI and $576 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 159% 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 $1,265, than in Maui, HI at $4,713. 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 $1,265 in Phuket to $4,713 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.