😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $552 in Chirchiq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $888 in Chirchiq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,224 in Chirchiq.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 129% more expensive than Chirchiq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Chirchiq59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$2.95UZS 35.3K
54.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$20.80UZS 249.1K
124.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$2.96UZS 35.4K
186.15%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.85UZS 22.2K
63.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.58UZS 6,964
18.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.25UZS 2,969
48.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.02UZS 12.2K
144.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$1.99UZS 23.8K
83.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.02UZS 12.2K
113.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.41UZS 4,915
363.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.01UZS 12.1K
117.82%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.23UZS 14.8K
80.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$4.90UZS 58.6K
307.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.76UZS 45.1K
-2.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$8.34UZS 99.9K
58.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.02UZS 12.3K
216.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.74UZS 20.9K
-2.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$2.15UZS 25.7K
11.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.02UZS 12.2K
103.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.47UZS 5,656
238.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.34UZS 4,111
335.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.57UZS 6,886
80.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.40UZS 4,803
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$1.97UZS 23.6K
115.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$6.61UZS 79.1K
184.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.98UZS 11.8K
79.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.92UZS 34.9K
-5.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.17UZS 2,040
700.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$5.13UZS 61.5K
121.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.82UZS 9,841
282.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.31UZS 3,717
235.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$3.48UZS 41.7K
295.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$0.73UZS 8,748
83.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$20.2KUZS 242.3M
36.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$25.2KUZS 301.9M
34.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$20.34UZS 243.6K
507.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$3.66UZS 43.8K
269.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$11.86UZS 142.0K
57.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$15.11UZS 181.0K
309.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$15.21UZS 182.2K
13.41%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$4.89UZS 58.5K
86.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$293UZS 3.5M
140.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$9,063UZS 108.5M
75.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$30.22UZS 362.0K
96.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$48.91UZS 585.7K
-28.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$100UZS 1.2M
15.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$102UZS 1.2M
-17.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$216UZS 2.6M
186.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$150UZS 1.8M
188.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$298UZS 3.6M
590.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$247UZS 3.0M
510.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chirchiq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chirchiq: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $216 in Chirchiq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Chirchiq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $144 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 129% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $828 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: $619 in Phuket versus $216 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 121% 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 $703 in Phuket versus $293 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 Phuket or Chirchiq?
At $552 in Chirchiq versus $1,261 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 129% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.