Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AkitaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Akita
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,235 in Akita, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,965 in Akita, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,695 in Akita, rent included.
🙂Phuket and Akita have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Phuket and Akita are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Akita10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$6.61¥1,036
-33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$32.99¥5,175
-2.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$4.90¥769
82.24%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$3.62¥567
-19.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$1.02¥160
-13.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.81¥127
-40.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$1.95¥306
20.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$3.28¥515
13.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.55¥243
20.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$1.53¥241
-3.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$3.65¥573
-57.53%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.09¥328
0.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$12.37¥1,941
58.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.50¥1,019
-47.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$15.35¥2,407
-25.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$4.62¥724
-35.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$2.41¥379
-30.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$3.08¥484
-28.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$3.81¥598
-43.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$2.81¥441
-45.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$2.14¥336
-37.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.31¥206
-13.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.81¥127
-32.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.89¥610
9.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$7.33¥1,149
160.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$2.04¥319
-12.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.12¥332
31.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Akita
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$1.49¥233
49.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$58.7¥9,203
-61.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$3.51¥551
-13.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$2.86¥449
-64.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$22.36¥3,507
-82.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.36¥214
9.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$22.2K¥3.5M
19.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$15.3K¥2.4M
76.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$133¥20.9K
-23.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$24.57¥3,854
-53.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$31.96¥5,014
-45.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$53.9¥8,447
-3.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$12.45¥1,952
-38.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$551¥86.5K
1.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$11.8K¥1.8M
-2.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$43.20¥6,776
45.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$32.49¥5,097
-9.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$87.2¥13.7K
12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$93.2¥14.6K
-5.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Akita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$507¥79.6K
45.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$336¥52.7K
43.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$1,055¥165.4K
99.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$751¥117.9K
63.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$3,700¥580.4K
-2.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$1,762¥276.3K
47.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Akita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$1,633¥256.1K
-69.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
2.09
166.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Akita: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $507 in Akita. 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 231% higher in Akita. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $33.00 in Akita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $295 – making Phuket 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
Phuket vs Akita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Akita?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,852 in Akita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Akita?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, 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 Phuket or in Akita?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Akita, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Akita?
Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $551 in Akita. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Akita?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Akita at $1,235. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akita it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Akita?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,235 in Akita. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Akita?
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 Phuket or to Akita?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Akita makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.