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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $605 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $953 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,302 in Kafue, rent included.

Phuket costs about 104% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Kafue 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$5.73 ZMW 112

-23.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

$30.86 ZMW 605

4.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$5.16 ZMW 101

73.06%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

1.75%

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

17.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

-4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

83.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

61.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

2.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

-27.23%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

$10.78 ZMW 211

81.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.75 ZMW 132

-49.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$6.72 ZMW 132

69.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

-16.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

-34.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

-41.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

38.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

-41.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

-30.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

-5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

-32.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

33.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$10.60 ZMW 208

80.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

17.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

18.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

16.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

-37.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$5.13 ZMW 100

-24.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

-7.45%

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

$7,734 ZMW 151.6K

243.68%

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

$27.2K ZMW 532.7K

-0.55%

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

$102 ฿3,411

$82.0 ZMW 1,607

24.99%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$10.99 ZMW 215

3.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

-69.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$6.38 ZMW 125

20.53%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$146 ZMW 2,868

283.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

$16.8K ZMW 328.3K

-31.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

$23.80 ZMW 466

164.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

$15.75 ZMW 309

87.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

$46.80 ZMW 917

109.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

18.98%

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 ฿70.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kafue: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $31.00 in Kafue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $249 – 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: $1,232 in Phuket, $605 in Kafue – roughly 104% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $907 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $605 in Kafue. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $146 in Kafue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kafue, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $605 in Kafue 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 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.