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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,513 in Gongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,375 in Gongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,237 in Gongju, rent included.

Phuket is about 19% cheaper than Gongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Gongju is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$7.06 ₩10.4K

-34.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

$36.91 ₩54.4K

26.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

$5.90 ₩8,689

49.83%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

$4.22 ₩6,222

-28.91%

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

$0.74 ฿24.11

$1.87 ₩2,760

-60.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

$1.39 ₩2,045

-73.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

$3.71 ₩5,461

-34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

$5.98 ₩8,807

-39.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.5

$2.34 ₩3,443

-3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

$3.54 ₩5,221

-48.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

$3.11 ₩4,585

-27.97%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.3

$2.89 ₩4,261

-19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

$10.53 ₩15.5K

86.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$8.41 ₩12.4K

-56.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

$27.77 ₩40.9K

-52.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

$8.49 ₩12.5K

-60.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

$3.12 ₩4,593

-47.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

$7.43 ₩10.9K

-67.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

$5.18 ₩7,629

-60.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

$5.21 ₩7,677

-70.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

$2.92 ₩4,295

-48.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

$2.10 ₩3,100

-51.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

$1.20 ₩1,769

-59.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$3.39 ₩4,988

31.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿614

$17.24 ₩25.4K

9.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.7

$1.71 ₩2,517

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿89.5

$3.37 ₩4,960

-18.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

$1.06 ₩1,563

32.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

$3.56 ₩5,246

-12.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

$0.79 ₩1,165

26.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

$16.74 ₩24.7K

-15.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

$1.22 ₩1,804

10.66%

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

$27.2K ฿883.7K

$27.9K ₩41.1M

-2.45%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$24.5K ₩36.2M

34.10%

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

$125 ฿4,063

$188 ₩277.1K

-33.56%

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

$13.57 ฿441

$49.50 ₩72.9K

-72.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

$27.76 ₩40.9K

-33.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

$47.01 ₩69.3K

30.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

$11.43 ₩16.8K

-19.60%

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

$698 ฿22.7K

$496 ₩730.5K

40.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

$14.3K ₩21.0M

9.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$104 ₩152.9K

-44.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

$47.40 ₩69.8K

-25.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

$87.8 ₩129.3K

28.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

$118 ₩174.3K

-26.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

$452 ₩665.3K

36.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

$370 ₩545.2K

20.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿66.6K

$1,059 ₩1.6M

93.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

$762 ₩1.1M

95.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

$9,654 ₩14.2M

-60.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

$5,717 ₩8.4M

-53.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

$1,168 ₩1.7M

-55.16%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gongju: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $452 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 123% 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 $451 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: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,513 in Gongju – roughly 23% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,269 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $1,513 in Gongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $698 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 $1,232, than in Gongju at $1,513. 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 $1,232 in Phuket to $1,513 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.