Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chilanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chilanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $646 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $973 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,299 in Chilanga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 95% more expensive than Chilanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Chilanga 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$7.25 ZMW 127

-37.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$25.14 ZMW 439

85.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$3.77 ZMW 65.9

124.67%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.93 ZMW 33.66

56.99%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.69 ZMW 11.99

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.33 ZMW 5.82

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$0.95 ZMW 16.61

162.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.82 ZMW 31.77

101.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.32 ZMW 23.00

65.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.76 ZMW 13.22

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.60 ZMW 28.01

37.50%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.80 ZMW 31.46

23.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$7.93 ZMW 139

152.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.80 ZMW 66.4

-3.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$4.56 ZMW 79.8

190.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.56 ZMW 44.71

26.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.58 ZMW 27.61

7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.77 ZMW 48.49

-13.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.16 ZMW 20.30

79.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.86 ZMW 32.55

-14.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.33 ZMW 23.30

11.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.94 ZMW 16.45

9.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.48 ZMW 8.35

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.56 ZMW 44.67

66.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$11.59 ZMW 203

62.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.09 ZMW 19.04

61.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.58 ZMW 27.54

74.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.68 ZMW 46.88

17.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$9.04 ZMW 158

52.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.19 ZMW 20.72

12.61%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$8,085 ZMW 141.3K

242.33%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$28.9K ZMW 505.5K

17.10%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$92.2 ZMW 1,611

34.06%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$52.8 ZMW 922

-74.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$123 ZMW 2,149

-84.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$4.11 ZMW 71.9

122.38%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$179 ZMW 3,130

292.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$9,430 ZMW 164.8K

68.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$18.68 ZMW 326

218.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$16.93 ZMW 296

107.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$84.0 ZMW 1,469

37.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$73.5 ZMW 1,285

14.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-78.68%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $179 per month, with Chilanga 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 Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Chilanga differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $646 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $969 in Chilanga 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.

Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $179 in Chilanga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chilanga – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $646 in Chilanga versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chilanga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chilanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Chilanga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chilanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.