Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gongju Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gongju

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $1,484 in Gongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $2,360 in Gongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $3,236 in Gongju, rent included.

Phuket is about 18% cheaper than Gongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Gongju is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$7.25 ₩11.0K

-37.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$36.82 ₩55.6K

26.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$6.12 ₩9,242

38.73%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$4.20 ₩6,343

-26.67%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$1.87 ₩2,828

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$1.38 ₩2,088

-73.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$3.78 ₩5,707

-35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$5.74 ₩8,671

-36.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$2.26 ₩3,419

-3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$3.56 ₩5,374

-49.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$3.02 ₩4,565

-26.16%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$2.89 ₩4,360

-22.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$10.59 ₩16.0K

85.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$8.45 ₩12.8K

-55.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$27.49 ₩41.5K

-51.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$8.48 ₩12.8K

-60.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$3.10 ₩4,689

-47.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$7.50 ₩11.3K

-67.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$5.36 ₩8,099

-62.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$5.02 ₩7,585

-69.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$3.07 ₩4,636

-52.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$2.00 ₩3,024

-49.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$1.15 ₩1,734

-58.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$3.35 ₩5,064

27.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$16.37 ₩24.7K

16.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.69 ₩2,560

8.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$3.33 ₩5,036

-17.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$1.12 ₩1,688

26.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$3.47 ₩5,250

-13.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.79 ₩1,198

32.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$16.24 ₩24.5K

-14.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.21 ₩1,829

6.61%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$27.6K ₩41.7M

1.48%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$24.5K ₩37.0M

36.82%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$193 ₩291.4K

-36.75%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$51.2 ₩77.3K

-72.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$27.99 ₩42.3K

-32.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$48.67 ₩73.5K

25.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$11.48 ₩17.3K

-22.56%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$496 ₩749.3K

39.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$13.9K ₩21.0M

16.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$104 ₩156.8K

-44.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$47.79 ₩72.2K

-25.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$88.6 ₩133.9K

27.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$118 ₩177.7K

-29.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$459 ₩693.0K

32.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$376 ₩568.0K

19.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$1,047 ₩1.6M

93.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$753 ₩1.1M

98.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$9,713 ₩14.7M

-63.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$5,313 ₩8.0M

-51.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$1,152 ₩1.7M

-56.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.22

26.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Gongju: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $459 in Gongju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 128% higher in Gongju, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $37.00 in Gongju. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $447 in Gongju – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,223 in Phuket, $1,484 in Gongju – roughly 21% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $2,227 in Gongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, 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 $1,223 in Phuket and $1,484 in Gongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $496 in Gongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Gongju at $1,484. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,223 in Phuket to $1,484 in Gongju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.