😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $438 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $694 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $950 in Kapchorwa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 189% 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
$4.70฿153
$2.74UGX 10.3K
71.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$26.47UGX 99.5K
71.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$8.49UGX 31.9K
-0.71%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.77UGX 10.4K
5.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.47UGX 1,758
46.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.31UGX 1,176
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.42UGX 5,334
69.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.77UGX 10.4K
34.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.76UGX 2,850
193.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$1.22UGX 4,587
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.38UGX 5,206
57.25%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.82UGX 6,836
21.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$4.37UGX 16.4K
351.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$5.04UGX 18.9K
-27.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$4.17UGX 15.7K
224.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.70UGX 10.2K
21.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.49UGX 5,600
8.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.74UGX 6,536
38.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.55UGX 5,818
34.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.60UGX 6,009
-4.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.91UGX 7,196
-22.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.01UGX 3,801
-1.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.58UGX 2,163
-12.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.94UGX 11.1K
50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$8.82UGX 33.2K
119.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.18UGX 4,430
50.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.05UGX 7,701
32.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
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
$0.53UGX 2,008
469.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.28UGX 1,053
253.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$4.26UGX 16.0K
230.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.50UGX 5,657
-9.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$8,972UGX 33.7M
214.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$8,710UGX 32.8M
277.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$42.36UGX 159.3K
187.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$14.67UGX 55.2K
-7.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$43.43UGX 163.3K
-57.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$6.36UGX 23.9K
36.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$158UGX 595.0K
338.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$4,391UGX 16.5M
257.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$16.88UGX 63.5K
252.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$14.52UGX 54.6K
139.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$38.84UGX 146.1K
195.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$46.50UGX 174.9K
79.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kapchorwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Kapchorwa: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $26.00 in Kapchorwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $168 – 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 189%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $656 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 vs Kapchorwa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 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 $693 per month in Phuket and $158 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 Phuket or Kapchorwa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kapchorwa, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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.