Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Homagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Homagama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $481 in Homagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $747 in Homagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,013 in Homagama.

Living in Phuket is roughly 161% more expensive than in Homagama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Homagama 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$4.34 LKR 1,423
5.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,072
$24.27 LKR 7,963
34.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿293
$7.50 LKR 2,461
18.67%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿92.2
$2.45 LKR 803
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿28.93
$0.69 LKR 225
27.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.08
$0.27 LKR 89.1
81.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.5
$2.27 LKR 744
5.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿122
$3.09 LKR 1,014
20.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿58.7
$0.93 LKR 306
92.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.38
$0.56 LKR 185
157.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.1
$0.53 LKR 176
198.11%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$1.64 LKR 538
29.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿655
$13.00 LKR 4,264
53.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿113
$3.20 LKR 1,051
7.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿372
$7.59 LKR 2,490
49.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿96.9
$6.59 LKR 2,161
-55.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.6
$0.89 LKR 292
93.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿76.4
$4.24 LKR 1,392
-45.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$1.24 LKR 406
67.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.33
$1.01 LKR 331
45.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$0.75 LKR 247
81.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.12
$0.88 LKR 290
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.89
$0.48 LKR 158
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$10.30 LKR 3,381
-58.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿605
$12.35 LKR 4,052
49.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿61.5
$1.77 LKR 582
5.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.0
$2.11 LKR 692
38.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿72.9
$0.48 LKR 158
362.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿753
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$0.34 LKR 112
791.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.31
$0.34 LKR 113
214.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿129
$0.87 LKR 284
351.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.04
$1.14 LKR 374
30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿891.7K
$13.8K LKR 4.5M
96.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.3K
$21.2K LKR 6.9M
29.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,379
$21.36 LKR 7,008
381.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿361
$3.10 LKR 1,016
254.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿576
$20.97 LKR 6,881
-16.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,760
$7.81 LKR 2,562
585.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿246
$4.39 LKR 1,439
70.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.3K
$38.45 LKR 12.6K
1348.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿389.6K
$1,209 LKR 396.7K
880.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,106
$19.83 LKR 6,505
223.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿956
$12.08 LKR 3,962
140.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,154
$24.05 LKR 7,889
299.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,970
$26.86 LKR 8,811
236.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.0K
$136 LKR 44.5K
437.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.4K
$60.5 LKR 19.9K
726.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿39.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Homagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.5K
$152 LKR 49.9K
230.84%
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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Homagama: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $136 in Homagama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 231% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $24.00 in Homagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $215 per month, with Homagama 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 Homagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homagama cheaper than Phuket?
Homagama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 161% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Homagama?
Average pay runs 231% higher in Phuket, 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: $730 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 $557 in Phuket versus $38.45 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 $24.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Homagama?
At $481 in Homagama versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 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 on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Homagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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