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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $600 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $955 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,310 in Chilanga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 105% more expensive than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Chilanga 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$5.89 ZMW 115

-25.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$30.85 ZMW 603

4.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.15 ZMW 101

73.40%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.86 ZMW 55.8

1.40%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.80 ZMW 15.68

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.50 ZMW 9.84

-4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.28 ZMW 24.99

83.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.41 ZMW 47.02

54.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.83 ZMW 35.68

2.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.26 ZMW 24.70

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.10 ZMW 41.08

-26.19%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.03 ZMW 39.58

3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$10.83 ZMW 211

80.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.39 ZMW 125

-46.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$6.61 ZMW 129

72.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$3.47 ZMW 67.8

-14.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$2.55 ZMW 49.80

-34.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.69 ZMW 72.0

-40.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.62 ZMW 31.62

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.59 ZMW 50.6

-41.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.85 ZMW 36.06

-27.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$1.15 ZMW 22.50

-1.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.82 ZMW 16.10

-32.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.05 ZMW 59.5

39.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$10.23 ZMW 200

86.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.45 ZMW 28.26

22.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.34 ZMW 45.79

18.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.69 ZMW 52.5

12.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$1.60 ZMW 31.22

-36.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$5.19 ZMW 101

-25.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.62 ZMW 31.61

-8.02%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$7,842 ZMW 153.1K

238.98%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$27.0K ZMW 528.2K

-0.06%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$83.2 ZMW 1,625

23.13%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$10.89 ZMW 213

4.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$57.8 ZMW 1,129

-69.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$6.08 ZMW 119

26.48%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$141 ZMW 2,754

297.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$16.9K ZMW 329.1K

-31.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$24.11 ZMW 471

161.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$15.96 ZMW 312

84.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$46.08 ZMW 900

112.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$75.1 ZMW 1,468

17.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $31.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $246 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 105% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $600 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $900 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 $561 in Phuket versus $141 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 $31.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $600 in Chilanga versus $1,232 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 105% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.