Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Goma

For one person, living is cheaper in Goma: $429 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Goma
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
$429
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Goma

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Goma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $429 in Goma, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Goma $429

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $748 in Goma, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Goma $748

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,067 in Goma, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Goma $1,067

Phuket costs about 198% more than Goma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Goma 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$15.18 CDF 34.3K
-70.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$44.60 CDF 100.7K
-27.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.97 CDF 22.5K
-11.63%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$3.53 CDF 7,982
-19.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.03 CDF 2,325
-15.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.99 CDF 2,234
-50.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$1.19 CDF 2,680
115.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$4.90 CDF 11.1K
-24.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.98 CDF 2,208
69.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.17 CDF 2,639
28.21%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$1.58 CDF 3,561
32.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$5.96 CDF 13.5K
219.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.44 CDF 5,507
35.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$4.94 CDF 11.2K
120.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$2.05 CDF 4,637
42.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.53 CDF 3,451
47.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.51 CDF 1,158
196.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.69 CDF 1,556
-24.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.95 CDF 4,415
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.55 CDF 5,764
11.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Goma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$14.76 CDF 33.3K
-23.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$60.4 CDF 136.4K
-72.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$30.03 CDF 67.8K
123.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Goma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Goma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Goma: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Goma
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Goma
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Goma
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Goma
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Goma
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Goma
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Goma
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $45 in Goma. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $107 in Goma – so Goma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇩 Goma
🕒 Local time
08:01 8:01 AM
03:01 3:01 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
2,000,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CDF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Congolese Franc exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 2,258 CDF (10,000 CDF = 4.43 USD). 1 EUR = 2,514 CDF (10,000 CDF = 3.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Goma 7,740 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Goma

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Goma?
Phuket costs about 198% more than Goma, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Goma?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $644 in Goma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Goma?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $429 in Goma. That makes Goma about 66% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Goma?
Groceries cost about 149% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in Goma?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $429, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Goma?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $429 in Goma to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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