Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hue

For one person, living is cheaper in Hue: $491 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Hue
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$491
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hue

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 Hue actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,208 per month in Phuket vs $491 in Hue, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Hue $491

A couple spends around $2,027 per month in Phuket vs $857 in Hue, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Hue $857

A family of three spends $2,845 per month in Phuket vs $1,224 in Hue, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Hue $1,224

Phuket costs about 146% more than Hue, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Hue are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Hue 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$1.14 ₫29.6K
285.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$11.41 ₫295.3K
182.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$3.45 ₫89.4K
153.91%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$1.07 ₫27.7K
164.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$0.59 ₫15.3K
52.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.32 ₫8,259
46.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$0.78 ₫20.2K
226.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$1.18 ₫30.5K
224.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.34 ₫34.7K
29.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$0.80 ₫20.7K
83.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.82 ₫21.3K
84.15%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.48 ₫38.4K
46.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$12.86 ₫332.8K
53.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$4.18 ₫108.3K
-20.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$9.57 ₫247.9K
16.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$2.46 ₫63.7K
15.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.06 ₫27.4K
60.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$1.27 ₫32.8K
72.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$0.69 ₫17.9K
197.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.99 ₫25.5K
46.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.16 ₫30.1K
18.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.60 ₫15.5K
78.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.40 ₫10.5K
27.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$1.30 ₫33.7K
227.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$7.74 ₫200.3K
140.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$0.74 ₫19.2K
140.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$1.33 ₫34.4K
114.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.33 ₫8,566
584.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$7.26 ₫188.1K
204.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$0.45 ₫11.6K
568.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.55 ₫14.3K
92.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$2.47 ₫64.0K
56.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$0.91 ₫23.7K
59.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$31.1K ₫804.2M
-15.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$27.6K ₫713.4M
-2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$38.32 ₫992.1K
151.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$6.39 ₫165.5K
72.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$7.77 ₫201.3K
120.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$39.39 ₫1.0M
32.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$7.75 ₫200.6K
44.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$3.43 ₫88.7K
127.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$164 ₫4.2M
238.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$9,008 ₫233.2M
28.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$31.36 ₫811.9K
104.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$18.66 ₫483.1K
53.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$39.33 ₫1.0M
142.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$38.55 ₫998.1K
128.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$133 ₫3.5M
452.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$101 ₫2.6M
359.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$518 ₫13.4M
304.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$353 ₫9.1M
240.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$1,511 ₫39.1M
130.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,147 ₫29.7M
119.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$291 ₫7.5M
71.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.87
-18.92%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Hue: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Hue
$101 78.2% $362
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Hue
$180 32.9% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Hue
$52 57.9% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Hue
$58 53.7% $67
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Hue
$42 65.2% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Hue
$46 31.8% $22
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Hue
$12 70.1% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Phuket versus $133 in Hue. 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 72% 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 $11.00 in Hue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $180 – making Hue the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇻🇳 Hue
🕒 Local time
19:29 7:29 PM
19:29 7:29 PM
Same time as Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,166,500
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Hue 1,380 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Hue

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 Hue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hue cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 146%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Phuket and $737 in Hue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hue, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 204% less in Hue. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $556 per month in Phuket and $164 in Hue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Hue?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hue, where all-in costs run around $491, than in Phuket at $1,208. In Hue it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Hue more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hue – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hue?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hue. 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.

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