😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $678 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,009 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,340 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 82% more than Hargeysa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Hargeysa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Hargeysa49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$2.71SOS 1,552
70.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$15.07SOS 8,613
210.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$5.52SOS 3,155
60.14%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.18SOS 677
154.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.96SOS 549
-22.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.48SOS 275
-22.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$10.10SOS 5,775
-75.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$10.18SOS 5,817
-64.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.33SOS 757
69.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.72SOS 410
155.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.71SOS 977
30.99%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.78SOS 1,589
-16.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$2.06SOS 1,176
854.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$5.87SOS 3,358
-37.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$4.39SOS 2,511
198.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$3.36SOS 1,921
0.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$2.01SOS 1,150
-18.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$2.71SOS 1,548
-11.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$0.87SOS 497
133.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.02SOS 585
52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.37SOS 781
9.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.52SOS 300
96.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.79SOS 453
-37.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$0.97SOS 555
358.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$3.09SOS 1,766
511.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.29SOS 166
382.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$30.43SOS 17.4K
-62.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$3.05SOS 1,741
2.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.92SOS 528
8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$7.02SOS 4,014
100.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.01SOS 575
33.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$112SOS 63.9K
11.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$7.57SOS 4,330
79.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$27.45SOS 15.7K
-32.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$35.60SOS 20.4K
72.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$8.75SOS 5,003
92.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$5.02SOS 2,869
83.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$37.01SOS 21.2K
1786.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$600SOS 343.0K
2499.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$22.40SOS 12.8K
157.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$20.12SOS 11.5K
75.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$19.73SOS 11.3K
473.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$30.42SOS 17.4K
183.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$187SOS 107.1K
228.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$122SOS 69.8K
265.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$442SOS 252.4K
363.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$247SOS 141.4K
503.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$3,700SOS 2.1M
2.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$305SOS 174.4K
71.66%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hargeysa: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $187 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 72% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Hargeysa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $155 – 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 82% 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 vs Hargeysa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,017 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $678 in Hargeysa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Hargeysa?
Public transport costs about 165% 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 Hargeysa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hargeysa, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $678 versus $1,232 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 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.