Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Catacamas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Catacamas

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Phuket 6% lower, Catacamas 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$5.88 HNL 157
-22.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$37.01 HNL 989
24.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$7.82 HNL 209
13.04%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.31 HNL 61.6
32.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.94 HNL 25.16
-22.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$1.12 HNL 30.05
-64.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$1.18 HNL 31.58
105.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$2.63 HNL 70.3
43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.46 HNL 39.10
54.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$2.09 HNL 56.0
-13.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.22 HNL 32.70
84.43%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.11 HNL 56.4
6.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$6.03 HNL 161
223.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$3.87 HNL 103
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$7.98 HNL 213
63.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.89 HNL 77.2
11.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.51 HNL 40.47
7.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.46 HNL 38.95
63.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$1.52 HNL 40.69
33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.58 HNL 42.35
-3.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.41 HNL 37.63
6.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.83 HNL 22.29
18.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$1.72 HNL 45.93
-69.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$2.44 HNL 65.2
81.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.28 HNL 34.27
45.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$1.86 HNL 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
$4.31 HNL 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
$1.02 HNL 27.28
28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$18.9K HNL 505.4K
47.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$19.3K HNL 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
$82.1 HNL 2,196
49.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$8.80 HNL 235
54.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$41.71 HNL 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
$5.89 HNL 157
53.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Catacamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$246 HNL 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
$46.39 HNL 1,240
26.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$35.63 HNL 953
-0.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$107 HNL 2,867
7.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$103 HNL 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities