😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $614 in Kampong Thom, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,002 in Kampong Thom, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,390 in Kampong Thom, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 106% more than Kampong Thom, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Phuket and Kampong Thom are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Kampong Thom55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$3.69៛14.9K
26.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$40.15៛162.6K
-19.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$6.89៛27.9K
25.98%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.92៛11.8K
-0.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.85៛7,502
-54.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.68៛2,759
-27.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$1.46៛5,909
69.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$2.98៛12.1K
25.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$2.20៛8,912
-14.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$1.66៛6,715
-15.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.09៛4,432
48.62%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$1.76៛7,125
27.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$14.73៛59.6K
34.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$4.29៛17.4K
-18.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$9.34៛37.8K
21.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$4.06៛16.4K
-28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.78៛7,199
-3.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$4.11៛16.6K
-44.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$2.16៛8,764
-1.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$1.62៛6,567
-9.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$1.21៛4,891
17.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$1.15៛4,664
-4.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.76៛3,080
-21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$1.92៛7,787
124.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$10.92៛44.2K
70.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.00៛4,055
80.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$1.80៛7,269
65.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$1.09៛4,411
184.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.98៛3,982
10.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$5.16៛20.9K
-25.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.37៛5,548
4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$34.8K៛140.7M
-20.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$43.7K៛177.1M
-38.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$111៛450.8K
-5.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$7.42៛30.0K
53.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$25.65៛103.9K
-31.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$4.96៛20.1K
56.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$670៛2.7M
-13.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$10.9K៛44.1M
6.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$28.18៛114.1K
125.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$24.28៛98.3K
19.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$91.2៛369.2K
5.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$58.5៛237.0K
53.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kampong Thom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
8.07
-30.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Kampong Thom: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Kampong Thom. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $253 in Kampong Thom – so Kampong Thom wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kampong Thom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kampong Thom cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $921 in Kampong Thom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Kampong Thom?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $614 in Kampong Thom. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $670 in Kampong Thom. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kampong Thom?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kampong Thom, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kampong Thom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Kampong Thom more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kampong Thom – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kampong Thom?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kampong Thom. 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.