Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kanglung Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kanglung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $98.5 in Kanglung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $162 in Kanglung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $226 in Kanglung.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1185% more expensive than Kanglung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Kanglung 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.51 BTN 43.13

258.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.17 BTN 99.2

88.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$2.14 BTN 181

822.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.26 BTN 191

60.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$2.25 BTN 190

501.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.22 BTN 187

47.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.18 BTN 184

-26.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.19 BTN 185

10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.15 BTN 97.1

80.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.03 BTN 86.9

-3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.99 BTN 83.2

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.42 BTN 120

25.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$0.98 BTN 82.9

176.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kanglung: May 31, 2026

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 Kanglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Kanglung differ by about 1185% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $98.5 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $148 in Kanglung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 199% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $98.5 in Kanglung – a 1185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $98.5 in Kanglung versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kanglung but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kanglung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Kanglung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kanglung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1185% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.