Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kabwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kabwe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $652 in Kabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $965 in Kabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,278 in Kabwe, rent included.

Phuket costs about 94% more than Kabwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Kabwe are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Kabwe 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$7.24 ZMW 136

-38.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$24.49 ZMW 459

86.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$3.63 ZMW 68.0

141.32%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$1.93 ZMW 36.26

53.89%

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

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.73 ZMW 13.73

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.33 ZMW 6.26

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$0.94 ZMW 17.67

169.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.76 ZMW 32.96

113.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.33 ZMW 25.02

61.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$0.78 ZMW 14.65

133.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$1.60 ZMW 30.08

36.25%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$0.95 ZMW 17.81

136.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

$7.88 ZMW 148

153.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.99 ZMW 74.8

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$4.51 ZMW 84.5

200.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

$2.52 ZMW 47.16

28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$0.87 ZMW 16.24

88.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

$2.66 ZMW 49.94

-12.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$1.15 ZMW 21.58

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.87 ZMW 35.08

-17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$1.38 ZMW 25.86

5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

$0.92 ZMW 17.29

6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$0.51 ZMW 9.57

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$2.52 ZMW 47.34

72.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

$10.60 ZMW 199

75.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$1.14 ZMW 21.39

63.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$1.52 ZMW 28.56

74.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$2.80 ZMW 52.5

13.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

$9.09 ZMW 170

52.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

$1.24 ZMW 23.26

8.06%

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

$27.8K ฿929.6K

$8,130 ZMW 152.4K

241.83%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$28.0K ZMW 525.2K

19.18%

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

$123 ฿4,116

$92.7 ZMW 1,739

32.68%

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

$13.77 ฿461

$52.5 ZMW 985

-73.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

$123 ZMW 2,309

-85.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

$4.28 ZMW 80.3

107.24%

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

$688 ฿23.0K

$174 ZMW 3,260

295.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

$9,643 ZMW 180.8K

63.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

$19.14 ZMW 359

209.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

$17.04 ZMW 320

103.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

$84.0 ZMW 1,575

37.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

$74.2 ZMW 1,392

12.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-78.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $24.00 in Kabwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $171 – making Kabwe 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 Kabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 94% more than Kabwe, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $977 in Kabwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $24.00 in Kabwe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kabwe, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Kabwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kabwe costs $652 versus $1,264 in Phuket. 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 Kabwe. 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.