Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and HemingCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Heming
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $1,778 in Heming, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $2,783 in Heming, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $3,788 in Heming, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 29% cheaper than Heming, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 5% below the global median, while Heming is 33% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$17.33âŽ14.78
-73.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$56.7âŽ48.38
-18.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$11.69âŽ9.97
-25.75%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$3.36âŽ2.86
-12.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.79âŽ2.38
-74.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.80âŽ1.53
-78.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$6.93âŽ5.91
-63.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$5.91âŽ5.04
-36.04%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.29âŽ1.10
72.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$1.81âŽ1.55
-0.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$2.53âŽ2.16
-13.44%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$4.09âŽ3.49
-43.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$19.02âŽ16.22
1.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$13.85âŽ11.82
-72.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$21.20âŽ18.08
-37.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$3.15âŽ2.69
5.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$2.20âŽ1.88
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$2.66âŽ2.27
-13.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$3.60âŽ3.07
-44.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.23âŽ1.90
-31.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.55âŽ2.18
-40.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$1.52âŽ1.30
-32.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.68âŽ0.58
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$13.78âŽ11.75
-68.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$7.42âŽ6.33
161.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$2.61âŽ2.22
-31.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$3.43âŽ2.92
-21.87%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Heming
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$1.99âŽ1.70
-28.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$49.05âŽ41.84
-76.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$4.69âŽ4.00
-35.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$1.79âŽ1.53
-41.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$35.81âŽ30.55
-61.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$2.00âŽ1.70
-35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$37.7KâŽ32.1K
-25.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$36.8KâŽ31.4K
-10.27%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$190âŽ162
-35.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$23.50âŽ20.05
-41.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$32.76âŽ27.95
-42.43%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$37.06âŽ31.61
65.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$18.26âŽ15.57
-7.94%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$13.95âŽ11.90
-36.42%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$776âŽ662
-10.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$8,701âŽ7,422
84.54%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$101âŽ86.1
-41.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$39.56âŽ33.74
-11.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$87.9âŽ75.0
28.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$139âŽ118
-38.66%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Heming
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$784âŽ669
-21.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$612âŽ522
-26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$1,392âŽ1,188
49.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$1,074âŽ916
39.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$4,420âŽ3,770
-15.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$2,633âŽ2,246
1.09%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Heming
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.63
46.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Heming: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $784 in Heming. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $46 in Phuket versus $57 in Heming. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $366 â making Phuket 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 Heming: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Heming compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,270 in Phuket, $1,778 in Heming â roughly 40% apart. Heming costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Heming?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Phuket and $2,667 in Heming. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Heming?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Heming?
Kindergarten costs $696 per month in Phuket and $776 in Heming. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Heming, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Heming at $1,778. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Heming it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Heming?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,270 in Phuket to $1,778 in Heming. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Heming safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Heming?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Heming makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.