Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moratuwa and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Moratuwa: $131 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Phuket, Thailand
Moratuwa
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$131
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moratuwa and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moratuwa and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $131 per month in Moratuwa vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Moratuwa $131
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $211 per month in Moratuwa vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Moratuwa $211
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $291 per month in Moratuwa vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Moratuwa $291
  • Phuket $3,154

Moratuwa is about 90% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Moratuwa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Moratuwa 90% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.47 ฿151
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.41 ฿1,094
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.81 ฿297
-
Cappuccino
$1.84 LKR 611
$2.83 ฿95.5
-34.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 LKR 234
$0.87 ฿29.43
-18.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 LKR 49.28
$0.49 ฿16.67
-69.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 LKR 616
$2.56 ฿86.4
-27.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 LKR 816
$3.68 ฿124
-33.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 LKR 417
$1.66 ฿56.0
-24.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 LKR 154
$1.46 ฿49.35
-68.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 LKR 272
$1.50 ฿50.6
-45.33%
Eggs
$2.36 LKR 785
$2.09 ฿70.5
12.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 LKR 4,078
$19.07 ฿644
-35.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.30 ฿111
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.91 ฿368
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.93 ฿99.0
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.46 LKR 154
$1.69 ฿57.1
-72.78%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.25 ฿75.8
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.08 ฿70.1
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.51 ฿51.0
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.38 ฿46.56
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.07 ฿35.99
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52 ฿17.52
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.20 ฿142
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.79 ฿634
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.82 ฿61.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 ฿95.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.45 ฿49.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,913
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02 ฿102
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.02 ฿34.36
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.69 ฿125
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.47 ฿49.81
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.8K ฿904.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.7K ฿901.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$96.4 ฿3,254
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.44 LKR 1,475
$11.26 ฿380
-60.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$16.85 ฿569
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.01 LKR 4,989
$67.2 ฿2,270
-77.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.08 LKR 1,024
$10.73 ฿362
-71.30%
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.50 ฿253
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$476 ฿16.1K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.3K ฿380.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$62.4 ฿2,106
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.05 LKR 2,013
$28.41 ฿959
-78.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.3 ฿3,184
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$85.8 ฿2,898
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$716 ฿24.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$491 ฿16.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,927 ฿65.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moratuwa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Moratuwa: October 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$491
Groceries & Markets
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$266
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$124
Clothing & Footwear
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$122
Eating Out
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$122
Sport & Entertainment
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$82
Getting Around
Moratuwa
–
Phuket
$71
Good to know
🇱🇰 Moratuwa
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
05:15 5:15 AM
06:45 6:45 AM
1 h 30 min ahead of Moratuwa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
207,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 370 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moratuwa Phuket 2,040 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Moratuwa
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Moratuwa cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 874%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $197 per month in Moratuwa and $1,917 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 and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $131 in Moratuwa and $1,278 in Phuket. That makes Moratuwa about 90% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Moratuwa and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 283% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Moratuwa or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Moratuwa, where all-in costs run around $131, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Moratuwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Moratuwa or in Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $131 in Moratuwa to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Moratuwa or Phuket?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Moratuwa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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