Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Coffs Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Coffs Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,526 in Coffs Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $3,638 in Coffs Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $4,750 in Coffs Harbour.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 51% less than in Coffs Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Coffs Harbour is 85% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$14.46 A$20.32
-69.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$106 A$149
-69.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$9.54 A$13.40
-6.39%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$3.80 A$5.33
-23.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.27
$2.77 A$3.90
-68.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.00
$1.90 A$2.67
-74.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$5.30 A$7.44
-55.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$5.75 A$8.08
-35.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.0
$1.66 A$2.33
12.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.75
$2.81 A$3.94
-47.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$2.46 A$3.46
-36.99%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$3.39 A$4.77
-38.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿651
$8.96 A$12.59
118.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$7.01 A$9.85
-51.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$14.54 A$20.43
-21.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.2
$4.00 A$5.62
-25.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.0
$3.11 A$4.37
-45.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$3.59 A$5.04
-38.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$4.28 A$6.01
-49.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.45 A$2.04
4.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.49
$2.47 A$3.47
-45.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.53
$2.56 A$3.59
-55.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.17
$2.45 A$3.45
-77.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$33.00 A$46.37
-87.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$14.83 A$20.84
28.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$5.80 A$8.15
-69.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.5
$6.96 A$9.77
-60.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.1
$4.94 A$6.95
-54.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$2.17 A$3.04
39.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.02
$1.60 A$2.24
-36.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$37.41 A$52.6
-89.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.57
$1.25 A$1.76
19.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿883.8K
$27.2K A$38.3K
-2.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿898.7K
$34.3K A$48.2K
-21.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,407
$179 A$251
-42.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$10.55 A$14.82
7.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$54.4 A$76.4
-68.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,732
$109 A$154
-52.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$14.29 A$20.08
-46.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$2,181 A$3,064
-74.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.6K
$12.3K A$17.3K
-6.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,096
$77.2 A$108
-18.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$55.5 A$77.9
-46.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,259
$105 A$148
-6.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,943
$123 A$173
-28.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
$1,421 A$1,996
-48.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
$1,294 A$1,818
-62.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.0K
$2,156 A$3,030
-2.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$2,053 A$2,884
-40.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
$3,718 A$5,224
-2.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.5K
$3,682 A$5,173
-29.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$3,686 A$5,179
-86.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.73
-2.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $1,421 in Coffs Harbour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coffs Harbour pays 647% 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 $106 in Coffs Harbour for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $370 per month, with Phuket 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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coffs Harbour cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Coffs Harbour?
On paper, salaries run 647% lower in Coffs Harbour. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Coffs Harbour?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $1,421 in Coffs Harbour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Coffs Harbour?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Coffs Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Coffs Harbour?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,526 in Coffs Harbour – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Coffs Harbour?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,526 in Coffs Harbour, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Coffs Harbour. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Coffs Harbour more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coffs Harbour, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Coffs Harbour?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Coffs Harbour 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Coffs Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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