Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ho Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $345 in Ho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $554 in Ho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $764 in Ho.

Living in Phuket is roughly 266% more expensive than in Ho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Ho 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$3.00 GHS 35.03

49.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$10.00 GHS 117

355.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$3.86 GHS 45.04

126.94%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.43 GHS 16.66

107.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.51 GHS 5.96

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.30 GHS 3.53

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.47 GHS 5.46

438.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$0.80 GHS 9.30

368.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.16 GHS 13.50

85.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.51 GHS 5.92

256.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$0.75 GHS 8.70

190.67%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.29 GHS 26.78

-1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$10.92 GHS 128

83.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.26 GHS 49.75

-14.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$5.40 GHS 63.0

151.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.12 GHS 24.78

52.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.01 GHS 11.85

62.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.93 GHS 10.91

150.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.93 GHS 10.81

122.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.91 GHS 22.32

-18.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.02 GHS 11.89

43.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.28 GHS 3.25

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.48 GHS 5.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.58 GHS 18.47

175.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$7.14 GHS 83.4

160.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$0.56 GHS 6.49

232.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.14 GHS 13.33

132.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.59 GHS 18.63

99.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.20 GHS 14.06

-14.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$5.47 GHS 63.9

153.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.98 GHS 11.47

36.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$5,792 GHS 67.6K

379.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$7,771 GHS 90.8K

329.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,105

$23.97 GHS 280

413.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿459

$13.01 GHS 152

5.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$14.69 GHS 172

24.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$9.44 GHS 110

-6.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 ฿22.9K

$71.5 GHS 835

861.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$8,026 GHS 93.7K

96.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$14.74 GHS 172

302.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$18.68 GHS 218

85.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$28.66 GHS 335

301.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$42.10 GHS 492

98.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

25.4

-79.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ho: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $10.00 in Ho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $158 per month, with Ho cheaper across the board.

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 Ho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Ho differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $345 including rent). Ho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $518 in Ho to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $71.5 in Ho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ho – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $345 in Ho versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ho but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Ho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.