😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $808 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,315 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,823 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 55% more than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Phuket and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Cape Coast40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$4.33GHS 50.0
5.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$47.00GHS 542
-1.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$7.90GHS 91.2
11.90%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.45GHS 39.81
-11.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.99GHS 11.41
-26.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.37GHS 4.27
8.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.51GHS 17.43
60.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.54GHS 29.31
48.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$3.37GHS 38.84
-32.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.45GHS 16.72
24.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.35GHS 27.06
-4.26%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.26GHS 26.10
-0.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$11.32GHS 131
72.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$4.55GHS 52.6
-19.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$5.98GHS 69.0
118.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.95GHS 34.03
9.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.40GHS 16.18
15.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.69GHS 19.45
40.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$3.13GHS 36.14
-35.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$3.00GHS 34.65
-49.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.35GHS 27.10
-36.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.79GHS 9.15
24.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.52GHS 5.98
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$1.65GHS 18.99
169.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.37GHS 85.1
148.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.15GHS 13.28
61.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.94GHS 22.39
38.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.62GHS 18.71
91.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$1.16GHS 13.33
-10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$5.62GHS 64.9
151.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.08GHS 12.46
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$7,869GHS 90.8K
253.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$9,553GHS 110.2K
247.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$54.6GHS 630
124.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$13.10GHS 151
3.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$37.30GHS 430
-49.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$9.61GHS 111
-5.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$73.4GHS 847
862.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$8,042GHS 92.8K
96.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$14.85GHS 171
294.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$18.52GHS 214
90.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$28.94GHS 334
298.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$40.61GHS 469
106.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$704GHS 8,120
-11.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$256GHS 2,952
73.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,437GHS 16.6K
42.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$552GHS 6,369
170.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cape Coast
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
25.4
-79.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Cape Coast: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $704 in Cape Coast. 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $47.00 in Cape Coast. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $234 in Cape Coast – so Cape Coast wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Cape Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Coast cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,212 in Cape Coast. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Coast, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Cape Coast?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $808 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $73.4 in Cape Coast. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Cape Coast?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cape Coast, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Cape Coast it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Cape Coast more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cape Coast – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Cape Coast?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Coast. 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.