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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $699 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,058 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,416 in Kafue, rent included.

Phuket costs about 80% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kafue 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$7.05 ZMW 123

-35.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$25.10 ZMW 439

85.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$3.77 ZMW 65.8

124.67%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.97 ZMW 34.38

53.81%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.68 ZMW 11.84

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.36 ZMW 6.37

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$0.95 ZMW 16.60

162.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.81 ZMW 31.64

102.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.27 ZMW 22.13

71.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.80 ZMW 13.90

137.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.58 ZMW 27.65

39.24%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.83 ZMW 31.93

21.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$7.69 ZMW 134

159.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.97 ZMW 69.5

-7.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$4.63 ZMW 80.9

186.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.57 ZMW 44.91

25.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.63 ZMW 28.52

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.70 ZMW 47.24

-11.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.13 ZMW 19.74

84.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.88 ZMW 32.87

-15.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.36 ZMW 23.82

8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.88 ZMW 15.37

17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.49 ZMW 8.51

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.42 ZMW 42.24

75.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$11.34 ZMW 198

65.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.08 ZMW 18.89

62.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.52 ZMW 26.54

81.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$1.61 ZMW 28.22

-15.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$46.10 ZMW 806

-75.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.81 ZMW 49.17

11.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$9.37 ZMW 164

46.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.20 ZMW 20.97

11.67%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$8,105 ZMW 141.7K

241.48%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$28.4K ZMW 496.4K

19.24%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$91.0 ZMW 1,590

35.84%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$52.2 ZMW 912

-74.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$126 ZMW 2,210

-85.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$4.25 ZMW 74.2

115.06%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$174 ZMW 3,035

304.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$9,402 ZMW 164.3K

68.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$18.99 ZMW 332

213.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$17.28 ZMW 302

102.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$83.4 ZMW 1,457

38.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$73.6 ZMW 1,287

14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kafue: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Kafue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $179 – 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: $1,261 in Phuket, $699 in Kafue – roughly 80% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,049 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $703 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 $699, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $699 in Kafue to $1,261 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.