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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $630 in Chinhoyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,001 in Chinhoyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,373 in Chinhoyi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 95% more expensive than in Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Chinhoyi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

125.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,075

$39.98 ZWL 1,065

-19.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$4.43 ZWL 118

101.58%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.5

$0.99 ZWL 26.27

192.93%

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

$0.88 ฿29.33

$0.35 ZWL 9.21

151.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.03

$0.24 ZWL 6.39

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$0.98 ZWL 26.17

139.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.02 ZWL 53.8

84.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.2

$1.47 ZWL 39.18

27.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.86

$0.86 ZWL 22.97

70.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$1.63 ZWL 43.35

-4.91%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.94 ZWL 51.7

8.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿653

$12.13 ZWL 323

61.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$2.98 ZWL 79.4

14.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$4.05 ZWL 108

180.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.4

$1.02 ZWL 27.16

192.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

73.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

127.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$0.99 ZWL 26.31

118.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$0.97 ZWL 25.97

56.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.59

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

38.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.60

$0.49 ZWL 12.98

130.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.21

$0.77 ZWL 20.44

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

114.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿636

$7.01 ZWL 187

172.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.3

$0.52 ZWL 13.90

242.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.7

$0.98 ZWL 26.13

183.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.3

$0.98 ZWL 26.14

127.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿758

$30.47 ZWL 812

-25.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.91 ZWL 104

-22.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.09

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$5.02 ZWL 134

-22.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.68

$1.40 ZWL 37.34

6.43%

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

$26.6K ฿885.7K

$22.2K ZWL 591.3K

19.80%

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

$27.0K ฿900.6K

$27.1K ZWL 723.0K

-0.37%

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

$102 ฿3,414

$40.57 ZWL 1,081

152.58%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$19.88 ZWL 530

-43.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿580

$68.1 ZWL 1,815

-74.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,735

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$10.09 ZWL 269

-23.79%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$457 ZWL 12.2K

22.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.4K

$8,890 ZWL 236.9K

29.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,100

$24.34 ZWL 649

158.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿984

$21.44 ZWL 571

37.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,266

$39.49 ZWL 1,053

148.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,949

$42.30 ZWL 1,127

109.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$180 ZWL 4,808

167.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$296 ZWL 7,895

313.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$198 ZWL 5,280

149.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.69

-59.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 149% 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 $40.00 in Chinhoyi. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $155, 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 95% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $630 including rent). Chinhoyi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 149% 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 $40.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $630 in Chinhoyi – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Chinhoyi versus $1,232 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 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.