🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,255 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,949 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,643 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 2% less than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Kempton Park8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$9.49R 156
-53.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$38.75R 635
-16.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$6.18R 101
44.50%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$2.59R 42.45
11.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.12R 18.32
-21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.93R 15.22
-48.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$2.54R 41.65
-7.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.84R 46.51
30.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.35R 22.13
38.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.18R 19.28
24.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.88R 30.80
-17.55%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.61R 42.77
-19.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$8.57R 140
128.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.16R 84.5
-33.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$8.88R 146
28.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.91R 31.32
56.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.79R 29.31
-6.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.85R 30.38
19.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$2.01R 33.00
7.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.83R 30.00
-16.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.75R 28.68
-23.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.27R 20.80
-11.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$1.36R 22.34
-59.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.44R 56.3
23.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$5.71R 93.5
234.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.71R 27.98
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.47R 40.53
12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$1.53R 24.98
45.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$61.7R 1,011
-63.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.30R 4.86
910.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.79R 12.94
29.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$15.19R 249
-74.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.56R 25.62
-4.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$36.9KR 603.9K
-27.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$33.4KR 546.3K
-18.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$191R 3,124
-46.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$39.48R 647
-71.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$38.45R 630
-54.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$39.55R 648
31.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$12.55R 205
-11.79%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$8.25R 135
-6.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$269R 4,403
108.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$5,670R 92.9K
102.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$54.3R 889
16.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$32.69R 535
-9.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$94.3R 1,545
3.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$86.0R 1,408
2.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$315R 5,167
134.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$375R 6,148
28.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$763R 12.5K
175.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$787R 12.9K
55.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$898R 14.7K
302.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$694R 11.4K
275.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$667R 10.9K
-25.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11.25
-50.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $315 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kempton Park pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Kempton Park. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $215, with Kempton Park cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kempton Park?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Kempton Park. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Kempton Park?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Kempton Park. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $315 in Kempton Park. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Kempton Park?
Shoppers in Kempton Park pay roughly 28% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $39.00 in Kempton Park. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Kempton Park?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,255 in Kempton Park, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kempton Park. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kempton Park?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kempton Park?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kempton Park are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Kempton Park. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.