Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ikeja Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ikeja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $2,418 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $4,099 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $5,779 in Ikeja, rent included.

Phuket is about 48% cheaper than Ikeja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Ikeja is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$0.53 ₦719

735.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$10.99 ₦14.8K

219.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$7.17 ₦9,653

24.97%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$2.82 ₦3,801

6.38%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.13 ₦181

492.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$0.07 ₦90.9

571.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$0.29 ₦387

727.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$1.96 ₦2,636

91.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$0.73 ₦976

149.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$0.76 ₦1,018

86.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$1.19 ₦1,600

30.25%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.09 ₦2,819

1.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$3.43 ₦4,621

476.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$3.76 ₦5,060

-7.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$4.51 ₦6,071

145.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$1.61 ₦2,170

80.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$1.22 ₦1,646

36.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$1.13 ₦1,521

100.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$1.30 ₦1,751

61.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$1.37 ₦1,842

7.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$1.29 ₦1,743

9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.85 ₦1,144

28.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$0.36 ₦479

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$0.57 ₦770

685.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$2.61 ₦3,510

617.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$0.53 ₦714

247.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$0.46 ₦619

541.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

$0.10 ₦135

2160.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

$3.39 ₦4,560

580.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$0.67 ₦906

353.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$0.89 ₦1,205

22.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$2.16 ₦2,914

76.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$0.12 ₦165

1141.67%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$10.9K ₦14.6M

152.43%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$13.4K ₦18.1M

104.66%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$114 ₦153.2K

-10.54%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$16.06 ₦21.6K

-29.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$24.98 ₦33.6K

-28.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$4.30 ₦5,789

82.56%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$681 ₦916.7K

-15.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$19.5K ₦26.2M

-40.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$14.19 ₦19.1K

360.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$20.03 ₦27.0K

44.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$35.27 ₦47.5K

180.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$51.7 ₦69.7K

74.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

$3,563 ₦4.8M

-78.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

$1,968 ₦2.6M

-75.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

$6,616 ₦8.9M

-68.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

$5,016 ₦6.8M

-75.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

$72.6 ₦97.7K

591.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.05

-69.14%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $3,563 in Ikeja. 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 592% higher in Phuket, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket versus $11.00 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $120 – making Ikeja 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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja costs about 92% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $3,627 in Ikeja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 126% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket and $11.00 in Ikeja. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Ikeja at $2,418. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,261 versus $2,418 in Ikeja. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ikeja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.