Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chinhoyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chinhoyi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $666 in Chinhoyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,032 in Chinhoyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,399 in Chinhoyi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 90% more expensive than in Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Chinhoyi 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

125.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$49.88 ZWL 1,331

-8.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$4.47 ZWL 119

95.97%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.02 ZWL 27.24

191.18%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.34 ZWL 9.10

102.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.24 ZWL 6.38

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.99 ZWL 26.40

155.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

89.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.51 ZWL 40.36

42.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.81 ZWL 21.53

124.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.63 ZWL 43.57

33.74%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.11 ZWL 56.2

6.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$11.03 ZWL 294

81.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$2.95 ZWL 78.7

23.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$4.03 ZWL 108

236.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

234.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.03 ZWL 27.43

59.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$1.03 ZWL 27.42

126.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.03 ZWL 27.42

100.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.97 ZWL 26.01

59.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.03 ZWL 27.38

41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.51 ZWL 13.67

92.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.78 ZWL 20.69

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.07 ZWL 28.62

306.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$6.82 ZWL 182

172.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$0.48 ZWL 12.85

287.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.03 ZWL 27.39

157.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.99 ZWL 26.31

43.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$29.74 ZWL 793

-61.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$4.02 ZWL 107

-21.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$2.02 ZWL 53.9

-49.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$5.05 ZWL 135

175.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.39 ZWL 36.97

-3.60%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$20.3K ZWL 540.4K

37.21%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$22.9K ZWL 612.0K

45.53%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$40.57 ZWL 1,082

203.30%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.94 ZWL 479

-23.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$90.1 ZWL 2,402

-79.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$10.20 ZWL 272

-13.04%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$280 ZWL 7,459

146.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$7,365 ZWL 196.5K

114.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.40 ZWL 518

205.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$21.35 ZWL 570

62.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$34.29 ZWL 915

235.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$39.83 ZWL 1,063

110.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$178 ZWL 4,760

150.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$302 ZWL 8,058

395.37%

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

$201 ZWL 5,363

145.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.31

-59.95%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 146% 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 $50.0 in Chinhoyi. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $153, with Chinhoyi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Chinhoyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Chinhoyi differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $666 including rent). Chinhoyi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 146% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Chinhoyi – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $666 in Chinhoyi – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $666 in Chinhoyi versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chinhoyi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chinhoyi 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 Chinhoyi 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 Chinhoyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.