Cost of Living Comparison Between Obihiro and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Obihiro and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Obihiro vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,978 per month in Obihiro vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,692 per month in Obihiro vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Obihiro and Phuket have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 ¥1,244
$4.70 ฿154
65.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.11 ¥5,628
$45.37 ฿1,488
-22.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ¥910
$8.43 ฿276
-32.74%
Cappuccino
$3.20 ¥513
$2.93 ฿96.0
9.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ¥171
$0.69 ฿22.48
53.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥128
$0.37 ฿12.04
116.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 ¥426
$2.41 ฿79.0
10.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ¥489
$3.72 ฿122
-18.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ¥241
$2.23 ฿73.2
-32.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ¥232
$1.83 ฿60.1
-20.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 ¥606
$2.17 ฿71.1
74.19%
Eggs
$2.27 ¥364
$2.21 ฿72.6
2.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.37 ¥1,982
$19.74 ฿647
-37.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 ¥1,025
$3.63 ฿119
76.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 ¥2,470
$13.53 ฿444
13.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.38 ¥863
$3.28 ฿107
64.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 ¥417
$1.61 ฿52.8
61.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 ¥647
$2.41 ฿79.0
67.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 ¥918
$2.08 ฿68.3
175.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 ¥484
$1.53 ฿50.1
97.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 ¥415
$1.48 ฿48.56
75.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 ¥257
$0.99 ฿32.42
61.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥134
$0.51 ฿16.73
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ¥684
$4.41 ฿144
-3.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 ¥1,213
$19.38 ฿636
-60.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ¥293
$1.78 ฿58.3
2.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ¥361
$2.71 ฿88.9
-16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.66 ¥267
$1.37 ฿44.96
21.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.1 ¥8,826
$11.39 ฿374
383.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ¥549
$3.02 ฿99.0
13.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ¥465
$0.99 ฿32.61
192.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.43 ¥3,275
$14.10 ฿462
44.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥197
$1.36 ฿44.68
-9.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K ¥3.8M
$28.2K ฿924.7K
-16.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥2.7M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-48.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 ¥26.5K
$122 ฿3,991
35.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.30 ¥4,376
$13.57 ฿445
101.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.12 ¥7,073
$18.31 ฿600
140.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ¥9,116
$60.2 ฿1,975
-5.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.84 ¥2,219
$17.14 ฿562
-19.25%
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 ¥2,012
$8.69 ฿285
44.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 ¥45.7K
$693 ฿22.7K
-58.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K ¥2.1M
$15.7K ฿514.4K
-14.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.15 ¥4,513
$59.5 ฿1,952
-52.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76 ¥4,770
$34.77 ฿1,140
-14.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.3 ¥9,505
$115 ฿3,758
-48.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3 ¥14.9K
$83.3 ฿2,731
11.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 ¥73.5K
$613 ฿20.1K
-25.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 ¥49.9K
$437 ฿14.3K
-28.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$852 ¥136.5K
$2,094 ฿68.7K
-59.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 ¥104.7K
$1,509 ฿49.5K
-56.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,717 ¥756.1K
$3,749 ฿122.9K
25.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,444 ¥391.7K
$2,616 ฿85.8K
-6.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Obihiro
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$508 ฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.78
5.33
-66.60%

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

Last update for Obihiro: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Obihiro versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Obihiro versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $316 in Obihiro vs $293 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Obihiro vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Obihiro compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,897 per month in Obihiro and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Obihiro and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Obihiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Obihiro and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Obihiro and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Obihiro, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Obihiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Obihiro and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Obihiro to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Obihiro or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Obihiro and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Obihiro. 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.

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