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: $1,264 in Phuket versus $81.6 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $133 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $184 in Busia.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1449% more expensive than in Busia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Busia 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$0.32 UGX 1,188

571.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$1.36 UGX 5,107

33.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.63 UGX 6,118

38.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

232.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

13.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.84 UGX 3,163

146.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.71 UGX 6,391

-14.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.29 UGX 1,091

65.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.23 UGX 4,603

253.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$5.20 UGX 19.5K

257.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.09 UGX 4,097

70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.35 UGX 5,063

96.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

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

$123 ฿4,105

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

$13.77 ฿459

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

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

$688 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Busia: July 26, 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 1449% 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 $1,896 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 265% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $81.6 in Busia – a 1449% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $81.6 in Busia versus $1,264 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 $81.6 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 1449% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.