😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $664 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $991 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,318 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 90% more than Hargeysa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Hargeysa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket5% lower, Hargeysa50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$2.78SOS 1,573
61.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$15.16SOS 8,598
200.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$5.62SOS 3,186
55.87%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.14SOS 647
160.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.91SOS 518
-24.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.52SOS 294
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$10.16SOS 5,759
-75.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$10.10SOS 5,724
-62.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.33SOS 757
61.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.78SOS 444
133.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.68SOS 953
29.76%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.74SOS 1,556
-17.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$1.99SOS 1,128
905.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$5.93SOS 3,364
-38.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$4.61SOS 2,613
194.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.43SOS 1,942
-5.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.94SOS 1,100
-15.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$2.72SOS 1,544
-14.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.79SOS 448
162.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.98SOS 556
58.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.31SOS 740
11.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.52SOS 292
88.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.80SOS 452
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$1.02SOS 579
326.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.29SOS 165
389.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$30.28SOS 17.2K
-61.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$3.03SOS 1,720
4.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.93SOS 528
10.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$7.16SOS 4,061
93.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.04SOS 592
28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$112SOS 63.4K
10.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$7.29SOS 4,136
88.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$27.97SOS 15.9K
-34.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$35.24SOS 20.0K
72.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$8.94SOS 5,067
91.95%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$5.11SOS 2,898
73.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$37.03SOS 21.0K
1757.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$608SOS 344.9K
2493.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$22.17SOS 12.6K
167.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$20.34SOS 11.5K
70.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$19.68SOS 11.2K
485.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$30.24SOS 17.1K
176.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$190SOS 107.8K
226.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$124SOS 70.4K
259.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$448SOS 254.0K
354.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$248SOS 140.6K
503.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$4,952SOS 2.8M
-30.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$303SOS 171.9K
62.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
20
-73.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hargeysa: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $190 in Hargeysa. 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 63% higher in Phuket, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Hargeysa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $149 – making Hargeysa 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 Hargeysa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Hargeysa?
Phuket costs about 90% more than Hargeysa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Hargeysa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $996 in Hargeysa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Hargeysa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hargeysa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Hargeysa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $664 in Hargeysa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Hargeysa?
Public transport costs about 162% less in Hargeysa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Hargeysa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hargeysa, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Hargeysa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Hargeysa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hargeysa costs $664 versus $1,264 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Hargeysa?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Hargeysa?
If budget matters most, go with Hargeysa. 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.