Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $539 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,124 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,709 in Jos, rent included.

Phuket costs about 128% more than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Jos 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$2.13 ₦2,817

107.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$30.77 ₦40.8K

4.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$4.69 ₦6,213

90.41%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.41 ₦4,525

-14.96%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.51 ₦674

72.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.72 ₦956

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.02 ₦1,351

130.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.19 ₦2,900

69.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$3.71 ₦4,917

-49.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.85 ₦1,125

72.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.25 ₦2,982

-31.11%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.82 ₦2,413

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$9.86 ₦13.1K

98.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$4.91 ₦6,506

-30.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$4.21 ₦5,585

170.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.98 ₦2,628

50.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.45 ₦1,925

15.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.49 ₦1,976

48.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.34 ₦3,097

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.81 ₦2,397

-16.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$2.44 ₦3,237

-45.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.55 ₦732

105.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.37 ₦497

48.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.97 ₦2,614

116.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$5.98 ₦7,921

219.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.18 ₦1,568

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.79 ₦2,371

55.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$0.57 ₦762

431.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.85 ₦1,127

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$1.93 ₦2,563

101.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.54 ₦718

175.93%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$25.7K ₦34.1M

3.44%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$18.2K ₦24.1M

48.60%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$99.5 ₦131.9K

2.96%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$6.42 ₦8,501

76.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$28.73 ₦38.1K

-39.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$39.37 ₦52.2K

32.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$12.08 ₦16.0K

-8.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$4.89 ₦6,480

57.26%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$45.71 ₦60.6K

1126.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$997 ₦1.3M

1054.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$9.94 ₦13.2K

534.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$15.16 ₦20.1K

94.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$50.6 ₦67.0K

93.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$50.9 ₦67.5K

73.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$568 ₦753.1K

270.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$483 ₦639.8K

153.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$2,033 ₦2.7M

77.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,484 ₦2.0M

75.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$98.8 ₦130.9K

399.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

22.5

-75.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Jos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 400% 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 $31.00 in Jos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $203 – making Jos 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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $539 in Jos – roughly 128% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $809 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $31.00 in Jos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jos, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Jos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $539 in Jos to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Jos. 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.