Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gulu Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gulu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $126 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $185 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $244 in Gulu.

Living in Phuket is roughly 895% more expensive than in Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Gulu 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$1.30 UGX 4,926

250.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$12.29 UGX 46.4K

-27.58%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$2.66 UGX 10.0K

5.26%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$0.26 UGX 977

238.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.13 UGX 506

276.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$0.83 UGX 3,140

187.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$2.61 UGX 9,852

42.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

$1.10 UGX 4,151

101.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

$32.36 UGX 122.2K

-29.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

$1.33 UGX 5,027

12.03%

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

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

$10.99 ฿361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Gulu: August 30, 2026

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 Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 895% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $189 in Gulu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 41% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $126 in Gulu – a 895% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $126 in Gulu versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gulu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Gulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 895% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.