Cost of Living Comparison Between New Plymouth and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between New Plymouth and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,843 in New Plymouth versus $1,247 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,770 in New Plymouth versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,698 in New Plymouth versus $3,306 in Phuket.

Living in New Plymouth is roughly 48% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: New Plymouth is 37% above, Phuket is 7% below.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27 NZ$25.96
$4.59 āļŋ147
232.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 NZ$132
$46.83 āļŋ1,501
65.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 NZ$18.23
$8.70 āļŋ279
23.22%
Cappuccino
$3.76 NZ$6.39
$2.92 āļŋ93.7
28.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$4.02
$0.68 āļŋ21.92
248.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 NZ$3.50
$0.40 āļŋ12.70
415.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.26 NZ$8.94
$2.51 āļŋ80.4
109.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37 NZ$12.53
$3.80 āļŋ122
93.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 NZ$3.45
$2.16 āļŋ69.3
-6.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 NZ$2.50
$1.88 āļŋ60.3
-21.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 NZ$3.10
$2.16 āļŋ69.2
-15.74%
Eggs
$6.10 NZ$10.37
$2.22 āļŋ71.2
174.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 NZ$12.79
$19.57 āļŋ627
-61.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.02 NZ$22.14
$3.80 āļŋ122
242.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 NZ$21.59
$13.41 āļŋ430
-5.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 NZ$3.67
$3.26 āļŋ104
-33.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 NZ$3.35
$1.61 āļŋ51.7
22.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 NZ$5.54
$2.31 āļŋ74.0
41.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.67 NZ$11.34
$2.06 āļŋ66.0
223.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 NZ$4.31
$1.61 āļŋ51.5
57.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 NZ$2.84
$1.44 āļŋ46.26
15.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 NZ$3.40
$1.03 āļŋ33.01
94.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 NZ$2.43
$0.48 āļŋ15.39
197.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.83 NZ$35.42
$4.50 āļŋ144
362.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.70 NZ$14.78
$19.18 āļŋ615
-54.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.79 NZ$6.44
$1.82 āļŋ58.4
108.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 NZ$7.58
$2.69 āļŋ86.2
65.80%
🚌 Getting Around
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 NZ$3.03
$1.38 āļŋ44.16
28.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 NZ$111
$11.76 āļŋ377
453.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 NZ$3.14
$3.11 āļŋ99.6
-40.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.34 NZ$5.68
$1.00 āļŋ32.18
234.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.05 NZ$61.3
$13.74 āļŋ441
162.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.80
$1.30 āļŋ41.61
26.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.5K NZ$82.4K
$27.4K āļŋ877.0K
77.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K NZ$41.6K
$33.0K āļŋ1.1M
-25.84%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 NZ$354
$125 āļŋ4,004
66.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.73 NZ$52.2
$13.74 āļŋ440
123.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 NZ$51.2
$18.61 āļŋ597
61.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.81 NZ$60.9
$60.6 āļŋ1,941
-40.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.26 NZ$20.84
$17.15 āļŋ550
-28.51%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 NZ$18.48
$9.01 āļŋ289
20.64%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$753 NZ$1,281
$698 āļŋ22.4K
7.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K NZ$20.2K
$16.1K āļŋ516.5K
-26.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8 NZ$153
$59.2 āļŋ1,898
51.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.03 NZ$61.3
$34.86 āļŋ1,118
3.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.5 NZ$125
$114 āļŋ3,662
-35.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.1 NZ$114
$85.8 āļŋ2,751
-21.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$736 NZ$1,252
$619 āļŋ19.8K
19.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 NZ$1,141
$437 āļŋ14.0K
53.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 NZ$2,338
$2,075 āļŋ66.5K
-33.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,175 NZ$1,998
$1,509 āļŋ48.4K
-22.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,328 NZ$5,658
$3,764 āļŋ120.7K
-11.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,725 NZ$4,633
$2,694 āļŋ86.4K
1.18%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
New Plymouth
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,702 NZ$4,593
$528 āļŋ16.9K
411.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.93
5.33
11.26%

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

Last update for New Plymouth: April 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $736 in New Plymouth and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New Plymouth pays 411% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $78 in New Plymouth vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $292 per month, with Phuket 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
New Plymouth vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New Plymouth and Phuket?
New Plymouth and Phuket differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,843 vs $1,247 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: New Plymouth or Phuket?
New Plymouth pays 411% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in New Plymouth and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $736 in New Plymouth versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in New Plymouth and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 454% less than in New Plymouth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between New Plymouth and Phuket?
Childcare runs $753 in New Plymouth versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,843 in New Plymouth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in New Plymouth. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, New Plymouth 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: New Plymouth or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in New Plymouth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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