Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cabinda Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cabinda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $72.8 in Cabinda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,557 in Cabinda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $3,040 in Cabinda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 1638% more than Cabinda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Cabinda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Cabinda 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$7.51 AOA 6,856

-37.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,066

$39.65 AOA 36.2K

-18.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.9

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

$0.84 ฿27.91

$1.02 AOA 935

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.17

$1.65 AOA 1,508

-70.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$2.01 AOA 1,837

85.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.2

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.77

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿777

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿103

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.20

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

$27.8K ฿918.9K

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

$27.0K ฿892.4K

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

$105 ฿3,466

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

$11.39 ฿377

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,797

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

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

$576 ฿19.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿383.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿962

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,182

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,977

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$625 AOA 570.5K

17.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$2,775 AOA 2.5M

-54.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cabinda: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $625 in Cabinda. 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Cabinda. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Cabinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1638%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $109 in Cabinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabinda, 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $72.8 in Cabinda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $40.00 in Cabinda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabinda, where all-in costs run around $72.8, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Cabinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 Cabinda. 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.