Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $444 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $742 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,040 in Chingola.

Living in Phuket is roughly 177% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Chingola 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$15.75 ZMW 308

-72.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$26.01 ZMW 508

24.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.54 ZMW 10.57

62.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.38 ZMW 7.34

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$0.61 ZMW 11.85

285.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.31 ZMW 25.50

183.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.82 ZMW 35.55

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.25 ZMW 24.46

17.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.63 ZMW 51.3

-41.06%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.81 ZMW 35.30

16.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$5.13 ZMW 100

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$4.59 ZMW 89.7

147.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$2.05 ZMW 39.95

45.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$2.02 ZMW 39.50

-16.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.03 ZMW 39.64

8.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.13 ZMW 41.56

1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$3.05 ZMW 59.5

-50.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.52 ZMW 29.70

-11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.91 ZMW 17.69

-39.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.57 ZMW 30.62

171.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$5.21 ZMW 102

266.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.65 ZMW 12.66

173.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$0.79 ZMW 15.44

251.90%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.64 ZMW 12.45

59.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$10.53 ZMW 206

-63.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.37 ZMW 26.72

8.76%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$52.6 ZMW 1,027

94.77%

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

$11.33 ฿378

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$10.37 ZMW 202

402.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$20.47 ZMW 400

207.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$13.12 ZMW 256

125.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$51.2 ZMW 999

91.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$77.6 ZMW 1,515

14.08%

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

$15.3K ZMW 299.0K

-83.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$113 ZMW 2,208

336.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chingola: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 337% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $167 per month, with Chingola 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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 177% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 337% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $444 in Chingola versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chingola is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Chingola 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 Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.