😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $557 in Chirchiq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $890 in Chirchiq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,224 in Chirchiq.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 127% more expensive than in Chirchiq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Chirchiq58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$2.97UZS 35.5K
50.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$21.16UZS 252.9K
115.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$2.94UZS 35.2K
197.96%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.95UZS 23.4K
52.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.60UZS 7,146
15.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.25UZS 2,967
56.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.02UZS 12.2K
148.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$1.96UZS 23.4K
91.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$0.98UZS 11.8K
119.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.39UZS 4,661
366.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$0.97UZS 11.6K
124.74%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$1.18UZS 14.1K
90.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$5.01UZS 59.9K
299.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$3.82UZS 45.7K
-4.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$8.69UZS 103.9K
56.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.02UZS 12.1K
217.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.74UZS 20.8K
-5.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$2.18UZS 26.1K
6.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.97UZS 11.6K
113.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.51UZS 6,088
203.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$0.34UZS 4,121
329.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.62UZS 7,406
58.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.44UZS 5,265
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$1.98UZS 23.6K
119.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$6.84UZS 81.7K
171.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.02UZS 12.2K
82.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$2.98UZS 35.6K
-11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.19UZS 2,261
647.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$5.07UZS 60.6K
128.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.81UZS 9,685
291.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.31UZS 3,712
232.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$3.63UZS 43.4K
282.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$0.67UZS 8,055
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$20.3KUZS 242.1M
37.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$25.0KUZS 299.0M
33.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$20.09UZS 240.1K
512.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$3.63UZS 43.5K
279.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$11.88UZS 142.0K
54.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$14.89UZS 178.0K
307.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$14.97UZS 179.0K
14.63%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$4.91UZS 58.8K
80.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$298UZS 3.6M
130.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$8,971UZS 107.2M
75.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$30.28UZS 362.0K
95.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$47.86UZS 572.2K
-27.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$102UZS 1.2M
13.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$101UZS 1.2M
-17.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$212UZS 2.5M
193.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$152UZS 1.8M
194.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$296UZS 3.5M
586.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$253UZS 3.0M
492.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
22.07
-75.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chirchiq: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $212 in Chirchiq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Chirchiq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $146 per month, with Chirchiq 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 Chirchiq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chirchiq cheaper than Phuket?
Chirchiq is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $836 in Chirchiq to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Chirchiq?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $212 in Chirchiq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chirchiq runs roughly 128% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $298 in Chirchiq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Chirchiq?
At $557 in Chirchiq versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chirchiq but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chirchiq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Chirchiq more family-friendly?
For families, Chirchiq 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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Chirchiq?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Chirchiq 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chirchiq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.