Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $106 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $186 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $266 in Kano.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1099% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Kano 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$1.72 ₦2,281

170.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$14.75 ₦19.5K

118.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$6.17 ₦8,174

40.68%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$0.20 ₦267

320.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.15 ₦205

226.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$0.31 ₦411

700.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$0.31 ₦416

1103.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.65 ₦861

116.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$0.54 ₦716

200.00%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$0.87 ₦1,148

157.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.58 ₦774

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$0.31 ₦416

858.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

$0.29 ₦387

675.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

$12.38 ₦16.4K

89.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$0.52 ₦687

175.00%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

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

$105 ฿3,462

$7.39 ₦9,798

1318.13%

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

$11.39 ฿376

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$6.41 ₦8,498

173.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$20.66 ₦27.4K

163.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

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

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kano: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $20.00 per month, with Kano 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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Kano differ by about 1099% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $106 including rent). Kano 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 $158 in Kano 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 90% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $106 in Kano versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kano 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 Kano 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 Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1099% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.