🙂A single person spends $72.9 per month in Moratuwa vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $125 per month in Moratuwa vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $177 per month in Moratuwa vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Moratuwa is about 94% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Moratuwa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Moratuwa95% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.70฿153
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$45.37฿1,482
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.43฿275
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.93฿95.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69฿22.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.37฿11.99
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41฿78.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40LKR 463
$2.23฿72.9
-37.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49LKR 161
$1.83฿59.8
-73.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92LKR 306
$2.17฿70.8
-57.60%
Eggs
$2.62LKR 870
$2.21฿72.3
18.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.62LKR 4,518
$19.74฿645
-31.00%
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)
-
$0.99฿32.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51฿16.67
-
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
-
🚌 Getting Around
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11LKR 36.05
$1.37฿44.79
-91.97%
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)
-
$1.36฿44.51
-
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
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
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)
-
$13.57฿443
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.31฿598
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.2฿1,967
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.69฿284
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$693฿22.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.7K฿512.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.5฿1,944
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.77฿1,136
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$115฿3,743
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.3฿2,720
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moratuwa: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
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
Moratuwa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Moratuwa?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1637%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $109 per month in Moratuwa and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Moratuwa vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $72.9 in Moratuwa and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Moratuwa and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 296% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Moratuwa or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moratuwa, where all-in costs run around $72.9, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Moratuwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Moratuwa or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Moratuwa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Moratuwa or Phuket?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Moratuwa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.