😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $731 in Hai Duong, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,119 in Hai Duong, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,508 in Hai Duong, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 69% more than Hai Duong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Hai Duong are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Hai Duong45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$1.96₫51.3K
136.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$21.39₫561.2K
118.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.32₫113.3K
104.63%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.63₫42.7K
84.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.51₫13.3K
45.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.28₫7,325
32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$0.92₫24.2K
165.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$1.56₫41.0K
131.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.44₫37.7K
56.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.97₫25.5K
89.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$0.93₫24.4K
140.86%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$1.42₫37.2K
63.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$11.84₫310.7K
66.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$3.64₫95.5K
0.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$9.69₫254.2K
35.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$2.64₫69.3K
28.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.01₫26.5K
62.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.29₫33.8K
86.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.12₫29.4K
81.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.02₫26.9K
52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.05₫27.7K
42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.58₫15.2K
75.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.51₫13.5K
-3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$1.32₫34.8K
237.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$10.73₫281.5K
75.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.76₫19.9K
134.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.60₫41.9K
71.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.31₫8,236
351.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$6.35₫166.6K
80.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$0.73₫19.2K
327.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.62₫16.3K
61.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$2.86₫75.1K
392.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$0.91₫23.9K
48.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$34.4K₫903.5M
-21.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$32.0K₫840.1M
2.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$74.9₫2.0M
66.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$5.97₫156.5K
127.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$8.81₫231.1K
110.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$21.46₫563.1K
186.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$7.69₫201.8K
118.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$3.12₫81.8K
194.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$263₫6.9M
165.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$11.8K₫308.8M
32.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$41.28₫1.1M
39.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$22.99₫603.1K
53.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$85.3₫2.2M
32.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$74.4₫2.0M
16.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$363₫9.5M
69.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$247₫6.5M
80.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$673₫17.7M
204.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$467₫12.2M
219.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$3,378₫88.6M
11.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$1,541₫40.4M
71.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hai Duong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.1
-41.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hai Duong: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $363 in Hai Duong. 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Hai Duong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $188 – making Hai Duong 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 Hai Duong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hai Duong cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,096 in Hai Duong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hai Duong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $263 in Hai Duong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Hai Duong?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Hai Duong?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hai Duong, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Hai Duong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Hai Duong more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hai Duong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hai Duong?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hai Duong. 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.