Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Homagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Homagama: $485 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Homagama, Sri Lanka
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Homagama
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$485
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Homagama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Homagama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $485 in Homagama.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Homagama $485

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $742 in Homagama.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Homagama $742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $998 in Homagama.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Homagama $998

Living in Phuket is roughly 163% more expensive than in Homagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Homagama 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$3.72 LKR 1,237
20.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$25.25 LKR 8,395
28.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$7.65 LKR 2,542
15.16%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$2.53 LKR 841
11.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$0.68 LKR 227
27.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$0.27 LKR 90.3
81.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$2.19 LKR 728
16.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.03 LKR 1,008
21.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$0.86 LKR 288
93.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$0.54 LKR 179
170.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$0.51 LKR 171
194.12%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$1.70 LKR 565
22.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$14.01 LKR 4,656
36.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$3.29 LKR 1,093
0.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$7.33 LKR 2,436
48.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$6.67 LKR 2,219
-56.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$0.87 LKR 288
94.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$4.46 LKR 1,483
-49.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.32 LKR 438
57.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$1.01 LKR 336
49.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$0.81 LKR 270
70.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$0.95 LKR 315
12.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$0.43 LKR 143
20.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$10.18 LKR 3,384
-58.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$12.20 LKR 4,055
54.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$1.86 LKR 617
-2.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$2.13 LKR 707
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$0.47 LKR 157
208.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$0.35 LKR 115
762.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$0.37 LKR 123
175.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$0.95 LKR 314
288.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$1.09 LKR 362
34.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$13.6K LKR 4.5M
97.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$21.4K LKR 7.1M
24.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$21.27 LKR 7,070
352.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$3.04 LKR 1,009
270.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$20.60 LKR 6,850
-18.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$7.36 LKR 2,448
813.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$4.40 LKR 1,462
70.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$37.10 LKR 12.3K
1182.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$1,228 LKR 408.2K
817.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$18.30 LKR 6,083
240.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$12.20 LKR 4,057
132.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$24.25 LKR 8,061
288.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$27.07 LKR 9,000
216.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$136 LKR 45.4K
424.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$61.4 LKR 20.4K
699.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$149 LKR 49.6K
236.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12.69
-56.11%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Homagama: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Homagama
$61 87.5% $429
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Homagama
$218 18.2% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Homagama
$45 63.9% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Homagama
$37 69.8% $85
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Homagama
$104 14.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Homagama
$16 80.4% $66
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Homagama
$4.1 * 94.2% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $136 in Homagama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays about 3.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $25 in Homagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $218 per month, with Homagama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇱🇰 Homagama
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
09:32 9:32 AM
1 h 30 min behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
25,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 370 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Homagama 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Homagama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Homagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homagama cheaper than Phuket?
Homagama is about 62% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, transport, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Homagama?
Average pay in Phuket is about 3.4 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Homagama?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $136 in Homagama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $37 in Homagama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Homagama?
Dining out is cheaper in Homagama – a meal for two runs $25 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Homagama?
At $485 in Homagama versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Homagama but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Homagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Homagama more family-friendly?
For families, Homagama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Homagama?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Homagama are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Homagama wins on affordability, Phuket on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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