Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gonbad-e Kavus Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gonbad-e Kavus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $817 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,111 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

Phuket costs about 141% more than Gonbad-e Kavus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gonbad-e Kavus are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Gonbad-e Kavus 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.95 $3.95

18.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$16.92 $16.92

168.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$4.60 $4.60

83.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.16 $1.16

152.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.45 $0.45

53.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.00 $1.00

-63.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.57 $0.57

291.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.55 $0.55

232.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.53 $2.53

-14.23%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.09 $1.09

102.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$3.43 $3.43

475.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.29 $2.29

58.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$5.83 $5.83

132.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.78 $0.78

320.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.71 $1.71

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.98 $0.98

145.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.48 $0.48

333.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.49 $0.49

212.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.72 $0.72

105.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.59 $0.59

67.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.31 $0.31

64.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.73 $0.73

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 $1.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.54 $2.54

73.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.20 $0.20

585.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$9.90 $9.90

15.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.48 $0.48

529.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.27 $0.27

266.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$2.03 $2.03

594.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.74 $0.74

83.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$73.6K $73.6K

-61.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$54.1K $54.1K

-39.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

$16.05 $16.05

658.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

$2.03 $2.03

568.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$5.88 $5.88

211.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$16.27 $16.27

270.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$12.73 $12.73

34.64%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$1.48 $1.48

487.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

$115 $115

503.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$1,989 $1,989

688.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$22.32 $22.32

166.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$24.74 $24.74

40.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$112 $112

2.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$71.0 $71.0

17.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$282 $282

117.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$198 $198

120.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$638 $638

228.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$322 $322

368.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,089 $1,089

244.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$602 $602

334.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

22.24

-76.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Gonbad-e Kavus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $282 in Gonbad-e Kavus. 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Gonbad-e Kavus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $94.0 – making Gonbad-e Kavus 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 Gonbad-e Kavus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $787 in Gonbad-e Kavus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gonbad-e Kavus, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Gonbad-e Kavus. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gonbad-e Kavus, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Gonbad-e Kavus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gonbad-e Kavus – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gonbad-e Kavus. 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.