😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $587 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $962 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,336 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 113% more than Catacamas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Catacamas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Catacamas56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$5.88HNL 157
-22.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$37.01HNL 989
24.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$7.82HNL 209
13.04%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.31HNL 61.6
32.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.94HNL 25.16
-22.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.12HNL 30.05
-64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.18HNL 31.58
105.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.63HNL 70.3
43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.46HNL 39.10
54.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.09HNL 56.0
-13.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.22HNL 32.70
84.43%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.11HNL 56.4
6.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$6.03HNL 161
223.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$3.87HNL 103
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$7.98HNL 213
63.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.89HNL 77.2
11.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.51HNL 40.47
7.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.46HNL 38.95
63.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.52HNL 40.69
33.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.58HNL 42.35
-3.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.41HNL 37.63
6.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.83HNL 22.29
18.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.72HNL 45.93
-69.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.44HNL 65.2
81.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.28HNL 34.27
45.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.86HNL 49.70
44.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Catacamas
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
$4.31HNL 115
-27.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.02HNL 27.28
28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$18.9KHNL 505.4K
47.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$19.3KHNL 516.7K
71.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$82.1HNL 2,196
49.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$8.80HNL 235
54.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$41.71HNL 1,115
-55.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$5.89HNL 157
53.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$246HNL 6,573
187.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$46.39HNL 1,240
26.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$35.63HNL 953
-0.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$107HNL 2,867
7.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$103HNL 2,743
-18.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
12
-55.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Catacamas: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $37.00 in Catacamas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $189 – making Catacamas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Catacamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catacamas cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $880 in Catacamas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Catacamas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $37.00 in Catacamas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Catacamas?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Catacamas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Catacamas, where all-in costs run around $587, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Catacamas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Catacamas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Catacamas – 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 Catacamas?
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 Catacamas. 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.