Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chuzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chuzhou

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $684 in Chuzhou, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $1,105 in Chuzhou, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $1,526 in Chuzhou, rent included.

Phuket costs about 82% more than Chuzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Chuzhou are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 7% lower, Chuzhou 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿149
$2.15 ¥14.66
116.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 ฿1,488
$20.65 ¥141
124.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿278
$4.98 ¥33.99
74.30%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ฿94.4
$2.14 ¥14.62
37.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿22.39
$0.45 ¥3.07
55.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.63
$0.24 ¥1.64
62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿81.1
$0.44 ¥2.98
475.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿121
$1.41 ¥9.66
168.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 ฿71.1
$1.36 ¥9.29
63.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 ฿57.5
$2.17 ¥14.83
-17.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$0.82 ¥5.63
167.07%
Eggs
$2.31 ฿74.0
$1.53 ¥10.42
50.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 ฿620
$9.10 ¥62.1
112.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿121
$2.86 ¥19.52
31.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ฿424
$9.23 ¥63.1
43.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ฿107
$2.12 ¥14.46
57.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ฿52.8
$1.36 ¥9.28
21.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ฿73.3
$1.59 ¥10.87
44.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿63.7
$1.20 ¥8.22
65.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿48.96
$0.92 ¥6.29
66.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.50
$0.97 ¥6.65
55.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿32.93
$0.86 ¥5.89
19.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.47
$0.56 ¥3.85
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿141
$3.55 ¥24.24
24.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 ฿622
$14.79 ¥101
31.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿57.6
$0.88 ¥5.99
104.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿85.9
$1.50 ¥10.27
78.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 ฿45.86
$0.27 ¥1.82
429.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿375
$16.63 ¥114
-29.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿97.3
$1.51 ¥10.35
101.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.19
$0.36 ¥2.44
188.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 ฿438
$8.40 ¥57.4
62.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿41.61
$1.13 ¥7.72
15.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ฿893.9K
$16.7K ¥114.4K
66.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ฿1.1M
$14.7K ¥100.7K
124.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,940
$42.06 ¥287
192.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 ฿443
$9.59 ¥65.5
44.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 ฿604
$11.12 ¥76.0
69.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 ฿1,959
$41.43 ¥283
47.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 ฿538
$13.73 ¥93.8
22.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿284
$5.53 ¥37.74
60.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 ฿22.3K
$408 ¥2,783
70.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K ฿514.5K
$18.5K ¥126.3K
-13.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,899
$42.24 ¥288
40.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 ฿1,117
$32.90 ¥225
5.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,626
$69.0 ¥471
64.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 ฿2,725
$82.7 ¥565
2.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 ฿19.7K
$278 ¥1,900
121.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.4K
$188 ¥1,287
138.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿66.8K
$583 ¥3,980
257.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿47.9K
$362 ¥2,469
313.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 ฿119.7K
$2,713 ¥18.5K
37.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 ฿85.3K
$2,152 ¥14.7K
23.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.87
37.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chuzhou: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $278 in Chuzhou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $21 in Chuzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $197 – making Chuzhou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Chuzhou?
Phuket costs about 82% more than Chuzhou, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Chuzhou?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Phuket and $1,026 in Chuzhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Chuzhou?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chuzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Chuzhou?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $21.00 in Chuzhou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Chuzhou?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Phuket and $684 in Chuzhou. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Chuzhou?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chuzhou, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Phuket at $1,247. In Chuzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Chuzhou?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chuzhou costs $684 versus $1,247 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Chuzhou?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Chuzhou?
If budget matters most, go with Chuzhou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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