Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Calabar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Calabar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $817 in Calabar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $1,137 in Calabar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $1,456 in Calabar, rent included.

Phuket costs about 46% more than Calabar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Calabar are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Calabar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 ฿146

$1.13 ₦1,493

284.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.45 ฿1,090

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 ฿283

Cappuccino

$2.81 ฿94.2

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

$0.87 ฿29.38

$0.37 ₦484

135.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.44

$0.18 ₦245

155.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ฿86.8

$0.94 ₦1,240

175.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ฿122

$1.24 ₦1,636

193.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿57.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.56

$1.33 ₦1,756

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.54 ₦2,043

1.30%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.53 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ฿374

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ฿95.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ฿74.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ฿72.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿50.1

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.06

$0.47 ₦626

8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ฿630

$4.57 ₦6,048

310.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.5

$1.13 ₦1,494

53.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

$1.49 ₦1,977

86.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.17 ฿72.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.28 ฿748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ฿35.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿48.03

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

$26.3K ฿884.7K

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

$26.2K ฿879.9K

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

$96.7 ฿3,246

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

$11.41 ฿383

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 ฿574

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ฿1,773

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿372

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 ฿257

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

$555 ฿18.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿378.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 ฿2,130

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 ฿3,248

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ฿2,975

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ฿24.7K

$1,114 ₦1.5M

-34.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ฿15.4K

$754 ₦998.3K

-39.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 ฿70.6K

$1,898 ₦2.5M

10.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 ฿39.9K

$1,367 ₦1.8M

-13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,493 ฿117.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 ฿83.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 ฿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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Phuket versus $1,114 in Calabar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,190 in Phuket, $817 in Calabar – roughly 46% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Phuket and $1,226 in Calabar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, 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 $1,190 in Phuket and $817 in Calabar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 525% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Phuket at $1,190. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $1,190 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calabar. 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.