Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kafue Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kafue

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $708 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,061 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,414 in Kafue, rent included.

Phuket costs about 79% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Kafue 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$7.33 ZMW 137

-38.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$25.17 ZMW 469

81.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$3.63 ZMW 67.7

141.32%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.92 ZMW 35.83

54.69%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.67 ZMW 12.53

2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.33 ZMW 6.23

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.87 ZMW 16.22

190.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.81 ZMW 33.84

107.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.33 ZMW 24.90

61.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.75 ZMW 14.04

142.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.60 ZMW 29.83

36.25%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.85 ZMW 34.45

21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$7.62 ZMW 142

162.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.80 ZMW 70.8

-4.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$4.65 ZMW 86.7

191.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.48 ZMW 46.19

30.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.65 ZMW 30.82

-0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.75 ZMW 51.3

-15.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.15 ZMW 21.54

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.87 ZMW 34.88

-17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.33 ZMW 24.71

9.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.92 ZMW 17.18

6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.52 ZMW 9.62

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.54 ZMW 47.40

71.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$10.77 ZMW 201

72.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.12 ZMW 20.96

66.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.51 ZMW 28.24

75.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$1.64 ZMW 30.61

-13.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$46.63 ZMW 870

-75.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$2.69 ZMW 50.1

17.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$9.29 ZMW 173

49.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.20 ZMW 22.33

11.67%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$7,897 ZMW 147.3K

251.90%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$28.4K ZMW 528.8K

17.73%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$90.2 ZMW 1,681

36.49%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$52.3 ZMW 976

-73.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$125 ZMW 2,336

-85.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$4.23 ZMW 78.9

109.69%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$174 ZMW 3,245

295.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$9,500 ZMW 177.2K

66.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$18.76 ZMW 350

216.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$17.29 ZMW 323

100.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$83.3 ZMW 1,554

38.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$72.1 ZMW 1,344

16.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

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 Kafue: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Kafue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $178 – making Kafue 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 Kafue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $708 in Kafue – roughly 79% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,061 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $174 in Kafue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 Kafue, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Kafue 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 $708 in Kafue to $1,264 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 Kafue. 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.