Cost of Living Comparison Between Panjin and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Panjin and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $724 per month in Panjin vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Panjin vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,556 per month in Panjin vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Panjin is about 42% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Panjin and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Panjin 46% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 ¥24.04
$4.55 ฿153
-21.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.94 ¥94.2
$46.18 ฿1,553
-69.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.58 ¥24.16
$8.84 ฿297
-59.50%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ¥20.49
$3.06 ฿103
-0.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.28
$0.73 ฿24.40
-53.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ¥1.61
$0.40 ฿13.39
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥5.88
$2.43 ฿81.8
-64.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ¥10.62
$3.78 ฿127
-58.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 ¥9.21
$2.26 ฿76.0
-39.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ¥9.90
$1.81 ฿60.9
-19.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.58 ¥3.90
$2.25 ฿75.8
-74.22%
Eggs
$0.82 ¥5.52
$2.25 ฿75.5
-63.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.63 ¥133
$19.51 ฿656
0.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.24
$3.65 ฿123
-62.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.01 ¥67.7
$13.05 ฿439
-23.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.81
$3.23 ฿109
-59.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ¥7.46
$1.62 ฿54.4
-32.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ¥8.72
$2.38 ฿80.1
-45.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.88
$2.03 ฿68.1
-64.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ¥3.68
$1.53 ฿51.6
-64.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.92
$1.50 ฿50.5
-51.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ¥3.75
$0.98 ฿32.91
-43.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.78
$0.52 ฿17.39
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ¥24.11
$4.44 ฿149
-19.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.37 ¥111
$18.32 ฿616
-10.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ¥2.72
$1.86 ฿62.7
-78.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ¥10.27
$2.68 ฿90.1
-43.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.96
$1.41 ฿47.46
-79.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.80 ¥114
$11.70 ฿393
43.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 ¥5.47
$3.11 ฿105
-73.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.20
$1.04 ฿35.06
-68.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 ¥26.82
$14.11 ฿474
-71.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ¥7.29
$1.31 ฿44.10
-17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K ¥120.9K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-35.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.8K ¥93.5K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-58.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.57 ¥288
$122 ฿4,118
-65.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28 ¥28.91
$13.59 ฿457
-68.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.13 ¥48.19
$18.70 ฿629
-61.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.36 ¥286
$60.5 ฿2,034
-29.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18 ¥95.8
$16.98 ฿571
-16.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 ¥44.21
$9.07 ฿305
-27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$280 ¥1,894
$706 ฿23.8K
-60.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,480 ¥64.1K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-40.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.00 ¥284
$58.6 ฿1,969
-28.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 ¥349
$35.36 ฿1,189
45.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 ¥465
$115 ฿3,883
-40.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.9 ¥634
$83.7 ฿2,816
12.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 ¥1,873
$626 ฿21.0K
-55.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 ¥1,278
$445 ฿15.0K
-57.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ¥3,946
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-71.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ¥2,401
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-76.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,289 ¥22.2K
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-5.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,709 ¥11.5K
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-33.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panjin
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 ¥3,957
$500 ฿16.8K
17.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
5.33
-26.83%

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

Last update for Panjin: July 11, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Panjin versus $626 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Panjin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Panjin versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $289 – making Panjin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Panjin vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Panjin or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 73% more than Panjin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Panjin and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,087 per month in Panjin and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Panjin or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panjin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Panjin or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Panjin and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Panjin and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Panjin or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Panjin, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Panjin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Panjin or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Panjin costs $724 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Panjin compared to 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.
Should I move to Panjin or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Panjin. 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.

Panjin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities