Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Busia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $81.2 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $134 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $187 in Busia.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1416% more expensive than Busia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Busia 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.34 UGX 1,275

564.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.35 UGX 5,012

36.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$1.65 UGX 6,116

40.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$4.23 UGX 15.7K

209.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$2.77 UGX 10.3K

22.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$0.82 UGX 3,033

147.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.70 UGX 6,313

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.27 UGX 989

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$1.23 UGX 4,572

261.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$5.47 UGX 20.3K

245.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.14 UGX 4,234

56.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.41 UGX 5,236

95.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$125 ฿4,087

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Busia: April 27, 2026

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 Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 1416% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $122 in Busia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 264% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $81.2 in Busia – a 1416% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $81.2 in Busia versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Busia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Busia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $81.2 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Busia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Busia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1416% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.