😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $438 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $691 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $943 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 185% more than Kapchorwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kapchorwa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Kapchorwa67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.84UGX 10.5K
60.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$26.36UGX 97.5K
75.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$8.52UGX 31.5K
3.76%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.87UGX 10.6K
6.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.48UGX 1,772
52.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.29UGX 1,055
37.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.43UGX 5,285
69.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.75UGX 10.2K
37.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.71UGX 2,612
218.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.24UGX 4,605
45.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.34UGX 4,956
67.91%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.82UGX 6,734
23.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$4.35UGX 16.1K
348.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$4.98UGX 18.4K
-26.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$4.19UGX 15.5K
211.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.72UGX 10.1K
18.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.47UGX 5,433
10.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.74UGX 6,445
36.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.60UGX 5,928
26.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.65UGX 6,097
-7.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.85UGX 6,849
-18.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.03UGX 3,804
-4.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.59UGX 2,174
-11.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.97UGX 11.0K
49.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$8.74UGX 32.3K
109.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.18UGX 4,354
57.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.07UGX 7,673
29.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.58UGX 2,138
436.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.26UGX 955
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$4.11UGX 15.2K
243.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.44UGX 5,330
-9.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$9,209UGX 34.1M
202.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$8,898UGX 32.9M
273.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$42.07UGX 155.6K
191.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$14.15UGX 52.3K
-3.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$44.72UGX 165.4K
-58.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$6.10UGX 22.6K
48.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$164UGX 606.5K
330.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$4,372UGX 16.2M
261.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$16.93UGX 62.6K
245.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$14.39UGX 53.2K
145.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$39.34UGX 145.5K
193.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$47.67UGX 176.3K
75.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
20.8
-74.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Kapchorwa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $26.00 in Kapchorwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $167 – making Kapchorwa 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 Kapchorwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kapchorwa cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 185%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $657 in Kapchorwa. 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 Kapchorwa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $438 in Kapchorwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $164 in Kapchorwa. 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 Kapchorwa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kapchorwa, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Kapchorwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Kapchorwa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kapchorwa – 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 Kapchorwa?
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 Kapchorwa. 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.