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: $1,264 in Phuket versus $648 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $962 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,275 in Chilanga.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$7.18 ZMW 134

-37.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$24.89 ZMW 464

83.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$3.68 ZMW 68.6

138.04%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.02 ZMW 37.77

47.03%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.73 ZMW 13.53

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.37 ZMW 6.81

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.95 ZMW 17.74

166.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.75 ZMW 32.57

114.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.32 ZMW 24.69

62.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.75 ZMW 14.01

142.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.60 ZMW 29.93

36.25%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.86 ZMW 34.75

20.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$7.89 ZMW 147

153.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.92 ZMW 73.0

-7.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$4.70 ZMW 87.6

188.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.60 ZMW 48.56

24.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.65 ZMW 30.79

-0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.78 ZMW 51.9

-16.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.12 ZMW 20.80

84.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.89 ZMW 35.20

-17.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.37 ZMW 25.49

6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.86 ZMW 15.95

13.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.48 ZMW 9.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.46 ZMW 45.93

76.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$10.74 ZMW 200

72.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.10 ZMW 20.44

69.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.57 ZMW 29.21

68.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$2.78 ZMW 51.8

14.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$9.39 ZMW 175

47.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.19 ZMW 22.27

12.61%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$8,103 ZMW 151.1K

242.96%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$28.6K ZMW 532.6K

16.88%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$92.1 ZMW 1,718

33.58%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$51.8 ZMW 967

-73.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$126 ZMW 2,358

-85.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$4.09 ZMW 76.3

116.87%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$180 ZMW 3,359

281.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$9,425 ZMW 175.8K

67.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.30 ZMW 360

207.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$16.72 ZMW 312

107.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$84.6 ZMW 1,577

36.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$74.4 ZMW 1,387

12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 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 ($1,264 vs $648 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $972 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 $688 in Phuket versus $180 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 $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $648 in Chilanga versus $1,264 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.