🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,189 in Chilliwack.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $3,259 in Chilliwack.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $4,329 in Chilliwack.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 43% less than in Chilliwack, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Chilliwack is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$15.02CA$21.14
-69.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$72.6CA$102
-36.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$9.40CA$13.22
-5.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.94CA$5.54
-22.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.22CA$3.13
-67.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.70CA$2.39
-76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$5.96CA$8.38
-59.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$4.30CA$6.06
-12.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$2.20CA$3.10
2.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.81CA$3.96
-35.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.65CA$3.73
-15.09%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.68CA$5.18
-38.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$12.55CA$17.66
55.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$11.86CA$16.69
-69.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$13.01CA$18.30
0.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$4.40CA$6.20
-26.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.38CA$1.94
17.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$4.04CA$5.69
-41.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$4.99CA$7.02
-59.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$4.20CA$5.91
-63.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.96CA$4.16
-49.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$2.58CA$3.63
-62.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.89CA$2.66
-72.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$15.76CA$22.17
-71.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$12.71CA$17.88
44.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$3.12CA$4.38
-40.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$3.66CA$5.16
-26.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.96CA$2.76
-28.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$34.88CA$49.08
-66.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$3.03CA$4.26
2.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.27CA$3.19
-54.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$25.61CA$36.03
-44.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.24CA$1.75
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$25.4KCA$35.8K
9.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$20.1KCA$28.3K
65.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$117CA$165
4.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$45.10CA$63.5
-69.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$60.6CA$85.3
-69.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$38.14CA$53.7
58.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$18.30CA$25.75
-7.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$11.95CA$16.81
-24.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$530CA$745
33.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$17.6KCA$24.7K
-10.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$60.5CA$85.1
-3.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$35.30CA$49.66
0.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$97.3CA$137
18.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$114CA$161
-26.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$1,179CA$1,660
-46.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$1,081CA$1,522
-58.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,903CA$2,678
7.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,731CA$2,435
-13.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$3,257CA$4,583
6.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$3,246CA$4,568
-20.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chilliwack
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$3,123CA$4,394
-83.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.65
-5.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chilliwack: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $1,179 in Chilliwack. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chilliwack pays 525% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $73.0 in Chilliwack for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $383 per month, with Phuket 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 Chilliwack: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Chilliwack?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Chilliwack. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Chilliwack?
On paper, salaries run 525% lower in Chilliwack. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Chilliwack?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $1,179 in Chilliwack. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Chilliwack?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $530 in Chilliwack. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Chilliwack?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Chilliwack. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Chilliwack?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,189 in Chilliwack, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Chilliwack. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Chilliwack?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Chilliwack?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Chilliwack are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Chilliwack. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.