🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,805 in Kalgoorlie.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $3,040 in Kalgoorlie.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $4,276 in Kalgoorlie.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Kalgoorlie, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Kalgoorlie is 34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$16.57A$23.41
-72.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$77.1A$109
-39.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$9.99A$14.11
-15.22%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$4.35A$6.14
-30.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$3.56A$5.03
-80.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$3.33A$4.71
-88.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$5.87A$8.30
-57.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$6.79A$9.60
-46.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.43A$2.02
52.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$3.19A$4.50
-40.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.98A$2.79
11.11%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$3.85A$5.43
-42.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$8.76A$12.38
128.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$8.54A$12.06
-57.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$13.82A$19.53
-4.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$3.34A$4.72
-3.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$2.81A$3.97
-39.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$2.92A$4.12
-18.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$4.16A$5.87
-50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$2.53A$3.57
-37.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$2.09A$2.95
-29.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$2.00A$2.82
-48.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$1.52A$2.14
-65.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$30.33A$42.85
-85.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$13.84A$19.55
35.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$4.61A$6.51
-61.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$5.33A$7.53
-48.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$2.61A$3.69
-47.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$64.6A$91.3
-82.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$3.68A$5.19
-14.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$1.60A$2.27
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$33.66A$47.55
-59.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.24A$1.75
8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$28.9KA$40.8K
-4.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$22.5KA$31.8K
50.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$288A$407
-57.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$51.0A$72.1
-73.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$64.0A$90.4
-70.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$35.06A$49.54
76.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$15.65A$22.12
10.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$16.25A$22.95
-43.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$1,639A$2,316
-57.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$12.1KA$17.0K
31.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$67.8A$95.7
-12.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$49.67A$70.2
-29.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$98.1A$139
17.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$106A$149
-20.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$1,282A$1,812
-51.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$457A$645
-5.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$1,602A$2,264
28.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$1,431A$2,022
5.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$5,389A$7,614
-32.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$4,972A$7,025
-47.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$6,028A$8,517
-91.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.34
-15.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kalgoorlie: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $1,282 in Kalgoorlie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kalgoorlie pays 1089% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $77.0 in Kalgoorlie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $345 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Kalgoorlie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kalgoorlie?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Kalgoorlie. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Kalgoorlie?
On paper, Kalgoorlie earns 1089% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Kalgoorlie?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $1,282 in Kalgoorlie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Kalgoorlie?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 468% less than in Kalgoorlie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Kalgoorlie?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $1,639 in Kalgoorlie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Kalgoorlie?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,805 in Kalgoorlie, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kalgoorlie. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kalgoorlie?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kalgoorlie?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kalgoorlie are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Kalgoorlie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.