😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $183 in Inhambane.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $314 in Inhambane.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $445 in Inhambane.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 550% more expensive than in Inhambane, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket11% lower, Inhambane86% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35฿146
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45฿1,093
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42฿283
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.81฿94.5
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87฿29.46
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.48
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59฿87.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿57.5
$5.56MZN 351
-69.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.69
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56฿52.5
$1.00MZN 63.0
56.00%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.7
$1.85MZN 117
13.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53฿657
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$5.36MZN 339
-36.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14฿375
$4.65MZN 294
139.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83฿95.4
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.6
$3.21MZN 203
-49.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22฿74.9
$2.33MZN 147
-4.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15฿72.3
$1.54MZN 97.2
39.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿50.2
$2.29MZN 145
-34.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33฿44.65
$1.60MZN 101
-16.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.92
$0.80MZN 50.7
33.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿17.10
$0.65MZN 40.90
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿148
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77฿632
$7.89MZN 499
137.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74฿58.6
$0.75MZN 47.16
132.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿93.5
$0.90MZN 56.8
208.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17฿73.0
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.28฿750
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06฿35.63
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71฿125
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿48.16
$1.48MZN 93.7
-3.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K฿887.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K฿882.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.7฿3,254
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41฿384
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11฿576
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8฿1,778
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65฿258
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555฿18.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿379.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4฿2,135
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61฿963
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7฿3,256
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6฿2,983
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735฿24.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458฿15.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102฿70.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187฿40.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,493฿117.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491฿83.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Inhambane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$501฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Last update for Inhambane: October 3, 2026
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 Inhambane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inhambane cheaper than Phuket?
Inhambane is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 550% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,785 in Phuket and $274 in Inhambane 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Inhambane?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Inhambane?
All in, you'll spend $1,190 per month in Phuket versus $183 in Inhambane – a 550% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Inhambane?
At $183 in Inhambane versus $1,190 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Inhambane but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Inhambane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Inhambane more family-friendly?
For families, Inhambane 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 Inhambane?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Inhambane 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 Inhambane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 550% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.