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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $644 in Chinhoyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,031 in Chinhoyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,418 in Chinhoyi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 96% more expensive than Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Chinhoyi 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$2.05 ZWL 54.8

122.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$49.87 ZWL 1,335

-6.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$4.55 ZWL 122

86.15%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$0.99 ZWL 26.37

206.06%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.32 ZWL 8.46

115.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.24 ZWL 6.40

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$0.98 ZWL 26.31

154.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.03 ZWL 54.5

80.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.54 ZWL 41.34

41.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.87 ZWL 23.39

118.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.61 ZWL 43.11

36.65%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.09 ZWL 55.9

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.80 ZWL 289

85.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.94 ZWL 78.7

24.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$3.97 ZWL 106

233.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$0.97 ZWL 26.06

232.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.03 ZWL 27.57

65.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.98 ZWL 26.21

143.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.02 ZWL 27.26

103.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.97 ZWL 26.09

63.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.03 ZWL 27.53

43.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.51 ZWL 13.75

101.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.77 ZWL 20.64

-32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$1.11 ZWL 29.79

282.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$7.12 ZWL 191

163.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$0.51 ZWL 13.73

245.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$0.97 ZWL 26.09

184.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$1.02 ZWL 27.23

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$29.68 ZWL 794

-61.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$4.07 ZWL 109

-22.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$2.06 ZWL 55.1

-49.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$5.04 ZWL 135

173.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.46 ZWL 39.01

-8.22%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$19.6K ZWL 525.9K

40.89%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$23.0K ZWL 615.3K

47.33%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$40.29 ZWL 1,079

206.75%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.46 ZWL 468

-22.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$88.4 ZWL 2,367

-78.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$9.97 ZWL 267

-8.32%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$282 ZWL 7,562

148.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$7,193 ZWL 192.6K

120.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$19.08 ZWL 511

211.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$20.93 ZWL 560

67.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$35.09 ZWL 939

228.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$40.32 ZWL 1,079

108.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$180 ZWL 4,809

140.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$296 ZWL 7,935

409.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$199 ZWL 5,339

154.20%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 154% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Chinhoyi. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 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 96% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $644 including rent). Chinhoyi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Phuket pays 154% more on average, 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 $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $644 in Chinhoyi – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $644 in Chinhoyi versus $1,261 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 96% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.