Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerikeri Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerikeri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,825 in Kerikeri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,846 in Kerikeri, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,867 in Kerikeri, rent included.

Phuket is about 31% cheaper than Kerikeri, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Kerikeri is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$14.87 NZ$25.33
-68.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$78.6 NZ$134
-42.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$9.62 NZ$16.38
-12.37%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$3.41 NZ$5.81
-14.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$2.28 NZ$3.88
-69.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$2.29 NZ$3.90
-83.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$6.00 NZ$10.22
-59.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.50 NZ$9.36
-32.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$1.18 NZ$2.01
88.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$2.13 NZ$3.63
-14.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$1.94 NZ$3.31
11.86%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$6.70 NZ$11.41
-67.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$8.87 NZ$15.11
122.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$9.55 NZ$16.26
-61.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$12.02 NZ$20.47
12.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.80 NZ$4.77
17.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$2.21 NZ$3.76
-27.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$3.37 NZ$5.74
-28.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$4.20 NZ$7.16
-50.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$1.97 NZ$3.36
-22.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$1.65 NZ$2.81
-10.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$1.90 NZ$3.24
-47.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$0.73 NZ$1.25
-30.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$24.86 NZ$42.34
-82.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$10.10 NZ$17.20
91.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.78 NZ$3.03
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$3.87 NZ$6.59
-29.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$2.08 NZ$3.54
-34.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$64.4 NZ$110
-82.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$1.83 NZ$3.12
65.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$1.56 NZ$2.66
-36.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$35.54 NZ$60.5
-60.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.63 NZ$2.78
-16.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$27.9K NZ$47.6K
1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$22.1K NZ$37.6K
49.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$129 NZ$220
-5.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$30.26 NZ$51.5
-55.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$48.74 NZ$83.0
-62.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$36.76 NZ$62.6
63.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$12.03 NZ$20.49
42.48%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$11.21 NZ$19.09
-22.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$896 NZ$1,526
-22.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$13.6K NZ$23.1K
15.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$69.2 NZ$118
-13.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$36.89 NZ$62.8
-5.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$98.4 NZ$168
16.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$124 NZ$211
-32.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$966 NZ$1,645
-36.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$772 NZ$1,315
-43.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$1,567 NZ$2,669
33.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,407 NZ$2,396
7.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$3,952 NZ$6,730
-5.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$3,935 NZ$6,701
-33.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kerikeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$6,012 NZ$10.2K
-91.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.37
-16.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kerikeri: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $966 in Kerikeri. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1083% higher in Kerikeri, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $79.0 in Kerikeri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $302 – making Phuket 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 Kerikeri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kerikeri?
Kerikeri costs about 44% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Kerikeri?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,738 in Kerikeri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kerikeri?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Kerikeri?
Public transport costs about 465% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Kerikeri?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $896 in Kerikeri. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Kerikeri?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Kerikeri at $1,825. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kerikeri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kerikeri?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,825 in Kerikeri. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kerikeri?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Kerikeri?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kerikeri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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