😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $453 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $744 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,035 in Hargeysa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 172% more than Hargeysa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Hargeysa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Hargeysa67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$5.12SOS 2,907
-13.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$17.57SOS 9,979
83.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$5.35SOS 3,039
66.92%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.46SOS 830
98.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.98SOS 555
-10.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$1.14SOS 646
-57.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.29SOS 734
44.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.10SOS 625
33.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.08SOS 615
43.52%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.50SOS 1,418
-16.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.36SOS 3,613
-46.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$3.90SOS 2,217
191.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$2.04SOS 1,159
46.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.52SOS 862
10.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$2.04SOS 1,156
8.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.34SOS 759
61.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.22SOS 690
24.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.48SOS 839
-9.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.02SOS 579
10.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.63SOS 355
-12.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$0.98SOS 559
334.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.29SOS 165
668.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$12.40SOS 7,045
83.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.76SOS 432
298.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.68SOS 384
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$4.06SOS 2,304
-4.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.01SOS 576
47.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$10.1KSOS 5.7M
163.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$11.8KSOS 6.7M
129.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$44.64SOS 25.4K
129.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$7.55SOS 4,291
50.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$20.17SOS 11.5K
-13.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$37.67SOS 21.4K
38.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$1.96SOS 1,113
464.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$25.02SOS 14.2K
2140.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$266SOS 151.0K
4228.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$12.42SOS 7,052
407.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$19.73SOS 11.2K
49.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$17.71SOS 10.1K
453.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$29.68SOS 16.9K
198.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$111SOS 63.3K
562.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$69.7SOS 39.6K
591.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$302SOS 171.8K
596.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$168SOS 95.7K
627.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$5,082SOS 2.9M
-28.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hargeysa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$306SOS 173.6K
61.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
20
-72.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Hargeysa: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $111 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 62% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $18.00 in Hargeysa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $134 – 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 172% 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $679 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 $453 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 83% 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 $453, 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 $453 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 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.