🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $716 in Nandaime versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Nandaime versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Nandaime versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Nandaime costs roughly 43% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nandaime47% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01NIO 184
$4.56฿149
9.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07NIO 1,284
$46.63฿1,519
-24.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.08NIO 259
$8.47฿276
-16.41%
Cappuccino
$2.46NIO 90.0
$3.03฿98.6
-18.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84NIO 30.86
$0.69฿22.45
21.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NIO 25.38
$0.37฿11.92
86.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28NIO 47.01
$2.49฿81.0
-48.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96NIO 71.9
$3.66฿119
-46.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23NIO 45.02
$2.18฿71.0
-43.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43NIO 88.9
$1.90฿62.0
27.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82NIO 66.8
$2.20฿71.6
-17.27%
Eggs
$2.31NIO 84.8
$2.22฿72.4
4.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.41NIO 418
$19.99฿651
-42.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60NIO 242
$3.66฿119
80.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.22NIO 301
$13.25฿432
-37.96%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79NIO 139
$3.23฿105
17.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85NIO 30.97
$1.70฿55.3
-50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81NIO 66.3
$2.39฿78.0
-24.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17NIO 79.4
$2.08฿67.7
4.33%
Potato(1kg)
$4.03NIO 147
$1.59฿51.8
153.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16NIO 79.2
$1.48฿48.31
45.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03NIO 37.69
$1.03฿33.54
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04NIO 38.15
$0.52฿16.83
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65NIO 96.9
$4.25฿138
-37.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.42NIO 528
$18.79฿612
-23.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46NIO 53.6
$1.76฿57.2
-17.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20NIO 80.5
$2.76฿89.8
-20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.36฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51NIO 55.4
$3.14฿102
-51.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.04฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.77NIO 248
$13.77฿448
-50.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30NIO 47.71
$1.34฿43.79
-2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KNIO 854.0K
$27.7K฿901.4K
-15.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KNIO 980.6K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-20.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.8NIO 3,580
$124฿4,025
-20.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.15NIO 628
$13.52฿440
26.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.47NIO 1,372
$18.69฿609
100.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.8฿2,013
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.10NIO 297
$9.14฿298
-11.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122NIO 4,486
$703฿22.9K
-82.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,966NIO 218.5K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-62.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7NIO 2,845
$59.5฿1,937
30.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.5NIO 2,691
$35.07฿1,142
109.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NIO 4,764
$115฿3,754
12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108NIO 3,938
$84.1฿2,737
27.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$619฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$433฿14.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,062฿67.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,511฿49.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,646฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,626฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nandaime
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$507฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
5.33
92.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nandaime: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Nandaime vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $293 per month, with Nandaime 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
Nandaime vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nandaime and Phuket?
Nandaime and Phuket differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($716 vs $1,261 including rent). Nandaime is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nandaime compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,075 in Nandaime and $1,892 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nandaime or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $716 per month in Nandaime versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $716 in Nandaime versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nandaime but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nandaime the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nandaime and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nandaime or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nandaime 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.
Where should expats move: Nandaime or Phuket?
Expats usually find Nandaime gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.