Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Avarua Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Avarua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $842 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,370 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,898 in Avarua, rent included.

Phuket costs about 45% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Avarua are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Avarua 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿148

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,528

$61.4 NZ$107

-24.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿278

$8.88 NZ$15.42

-4.39%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿101

$3.58 NZ$6.23

-13.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ฿22.26

$2.73 NZ$4.74

-75.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.84

$2.44 NZ$4.24

-85.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿79.5

$5.90 NZ$10.25

-58.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.92 NZ$8.55

-26.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.7

$1.86 NZ$3.24

17.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.5

$3.59 NZ$6.24

-49.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿73.1

$1.76 NZ$3.06

26.70%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.3

$5.17 NZ$8.97

-56.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿642

$12.25 NZ$21.29

60.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿122

$8.58 NZ$14.91

-56.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿441

$10.80 NZ$18.76

24.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$3.10 NZ$5.38

8.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.85 NZ$3.22

-12.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$3.69 NZ$6.41

-34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿65.2

$9.71 NZ$16.87

-79.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$2.98 NZ$5.17

-48.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.59

$2.42 NZ$4.21

-40.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.23

$2.39 NZ$4.16

-57.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.86

$3.07 NZ$5.34

-84.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿627

$14.29 NZ$24.82

33.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.8

$4.61 NZ$8.01

-40.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿384

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿98.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿456

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.28

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.0K ฿918.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,997

$121 NZ$211

0.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.93 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿618

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿2,008

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿552

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿291

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$691 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿529.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,894

$67.4 NZ$117

-14.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,160

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,716

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,720

$72.8 NZ$127

13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.9K

$158 NZ$274

284.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.7K

$160 NZ$277

180.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.5K

$176 NZ$306

1050.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.9K

$234 NZ$406

538.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿117.5K

$4,967 NZ$8,628

-27.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.7K

$752 NZ$1,307

243.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Avarua: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $158 in Avarua. 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $61.0 in Avarua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $382 – 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 Avarua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 45% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,264 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $842 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $842 versus $1,223 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Avarua. 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.