Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bulawayo

For one person, living is cheaper in Bulawayo: $747 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
36

Cost of Living Index in Bulawayo
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Bulawayo Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Bulawayo

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$747

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Bulawayo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Bulawayo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $747 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Bulawayo $747

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,194 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Bulawayo $1,194

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,642 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Bulawayo $1,642

Phuket costs about 71% more than Bulawayo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bulawayo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$4.37 ZWL 116

2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$29.90 ZWL 795

8.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$5.10 ZWL 136

72.75%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.5

$2.14 ZWL 56.8

32.24%

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

$0.87 ฿29.43

$0.52 ZWL 13.79

67.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.67

$0.36 ZWL 9.59

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.4

$1.46 ZWL 38.92

75.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$1.97 ZWL 52.3

86.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.63 ZWL 43.27

1.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.35

$0.98 ZWL 26.05

48.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.55 ZWL 41.16

-3.23%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$1.86 ZWL 49.36

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿644

$9.42 ZWL 250

102.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.82 ZWL 102

-13.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$4.60 ZWL 122

137.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿99.0

$1.80 ZWL 47.79

62.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.1

$1.55 ZWL 41.15

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.40 ZWL 63.8

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$1.04 ZWL 27.65

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.26 ZWL 33.50

19.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.44 ZWL 38.16

-4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.99

$1.10 ZWL 29.27

-2.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.52

$0.77 ZWL 20.45

-32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$1.51 ZWL 40.16

178.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$5.02 ZWL 133

274.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$1.36 ZWL 36.09

33.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$1.83 ZWL 48.67

55.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.03

$0.72 ZWL 19.06

101.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,913

$29.51 ZWL 784

92.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$3.06 ZWL 81.2

-1.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.36

$1.98 ZWL 52.6

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$5.03 ZWL 134

-26.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.81

$1.69 ZWL 44.95

-13.02%

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

$26.8K ฿904.3K

$25.1K ZWL 667.3K

6.61%

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

$26.7K ฿901.3K

$25.4K ZWL 674.8K

5.09%

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

$96.4 ฿3,254

$93.0 ZWL 2,472

3.56%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$17.52 ZWL 466

-35.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$107 ZWL 2,831

-84.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,270

$30.99 ZWL 823

116.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$20.38 ZWL 542

-47.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$10.09 ZWL 268

-25.67%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$228 ZWL 6,051

108.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.4K

$3,484 ZWL 92.6K

223.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,106

$20.95 ZWL 557

197.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$11.80 ZWL 314

140.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,184

$46.98 ZWL 1,248

100.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,898

$57.8 ZWL 1,536

48.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$172 ZWL 4,573

315.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$106 ZWL 2,803

365.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.1K

$406 ZWL 10.8K

374.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$323 ZWL 8,574

343.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿141.0K

$2,061 ZWL 54.8K

102.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$2,031 ZWL 54.0K

49.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$303 ZWL 8,056

65.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Bulawayo

$106 14.1% 78.5% $385

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Bulawayo

$175 23.4% 34.3% $91

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Bulawayo

$217 29.1% 74.4% $93

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Bulawayo

$62 8.3% 49.2% $60

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Bulawayo

$91 12.2% 25.5% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Bulawayo

$51 6.9% 37.8% $31

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Bulawayo

$45 6.1% 35.8% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $172 in Bulawayo. 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 66% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $30 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $175 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇿🇼 Bulawayo

🕒 Local time

05:05 5:05 AM

00:05 12:05 AM

5 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

653,337

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.76 USD

100 ZWL = 3.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 26.57 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.58 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.38 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Phuket Bulawayo 8,240 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Bulawayo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 71%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,120 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $172 there versus $716 in Phuket.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $747 in Bulawayo. That makes Bulawayo about 42% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 48% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bulawayo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.