Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cam PhaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cam Pha
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $741 in Cam Pha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,145 in Cam Pha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,549 in Cam Pha.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 66% more expensive than Cam Pha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Cam Pha45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$1.87₫49.2K
147.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$26.64₫698.9K
75.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.31₫113.0K
105.10%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.78₫46.8K
68.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.45₫11.9K
64.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.27₫7,162
37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$0.92₫24.0K
165.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$1.88₫49.3K
92.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.44₫37.7K
56.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.91₫24.0K
102.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$0.91₫23.8K
146.15%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$1.56₫40.8K
48.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$8.91₫233.9K
120.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$3.88₫101.8K
-5.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$9.70₫254.6K
35.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$3.37₫88.4K
0.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.01₫26.5K
62.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.65₫43.4K
46.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.12₫29.3K
81.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.04₫27.2K
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.05₫27.7K
42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.53₫13.9K
92.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.56₫14.7K
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$1.33₫34.9K
234.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$14.19₫372.3K
33.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.96₫25.2K
85.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.74₫45.6K
58.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.32₫8,272
337.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$6.69₫175.6K
71.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.73₫19.2K
327.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.57₫15.0K
75.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$1.61₫42.2K
775.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$0.85₫22.2K
58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$38.5K₫1.0B
-29.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$32.3K₫847.7M
1.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$78.2₫2.1M
59.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$5.19₫136.2K
161.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$8.54₫224.0K
116.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$21.15₫554.9K
190.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$7.73₫202.9K
117.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$3.88₫101.8K
136.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$261₫6.8M
167.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$11.6K₫304.4M
34.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$44.87₫1.2M
28.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$23.32₫611.9K
51.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$87.3₫2.3M
29.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$73.4₫1.9M
17.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$355₫9.3M
73.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$252₫6.6M
76.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$670₫17.6M
205.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$460₫12.1M
224.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$2,917₫76.5M
29.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$1,298₫34.1M
104.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cam Pha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.1
-41.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cam Pha: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $355 in Cam Pha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Cam Pha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $194 per month, with Cam Pha cheaper across the board.
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 Cam Pha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Cam Pha?
Cam Pha wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cam Pha the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Cam Pha?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,111 in Cam Pha 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Cam Pha?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $355 in Cam Pha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Cam Pha?
A monthly transit pass in Cam Pha runs roughly 72% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Cam Pha?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $261 in Cam Pha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Cam Pha?
At $741 in Cam Pha versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cam Pha but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Cam Pha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Cam Pha?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cam Pha delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $741 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cam Pha hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Cam Pha?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Cam Pha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cam Pha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.