Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kerikeri

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,901 in Kerikeri, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
98

Cost of Living Index in Kerikeri
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Kerikeri Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Kerikeri

🇳🇿 New Zealand

$1,901

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kerikeri

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kerikeri actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,901 in Kerikeri, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Kerikeri $1,901

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,858 in Kerikeri, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Kerikeri $2,858

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $3,815 in Kerikeri, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Kerikeri $3,815

Phuket is about 33% cheaper than Kerikeri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Kerikeri is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$13.99 NZ$24.84

-68.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

$68.8 NZ$122

-52.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$9.19 NZ$16.32

-4.13%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$3.35 NZ$5.96

-15.52%

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

$0.87 ฿29.41

$2.05 NZ$3.64

-57.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

$1.78 NZ$3.16

-72.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$6.62 NZ$11.76

-61.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$6.72 NZ$11.93

-45.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.93 NZ$3.42

-13.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.31

$2.22 NZ$3.94

-34.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.89 NZ$3.35

-20.63%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$6.31 NZ$11.21

-66.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$7.92 NZ$14.05

140.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$10.18 NZ$18.06

-67.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$17.40 NZ$30.89

-37.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$2.87 NZ$5.09

2.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$2.18 NZ$3.87

-22.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$3.00 NZ$5.33

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

$6.01 NZ$10.67

-65.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$2.07 NZ$3.68

-27.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.52

$1.52 NZ$2.71

-9.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.96

$1.97 NZ$3.50

-45.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$0.54 NZ$0.97

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$27.72 NZ$49.22

-84.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$10.57 NZ$18.76

77.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$2.89 NZ$5.13

-37.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

$3.43 NZ$6.08

-17.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.98

$1.74 NZ$3.09

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$106 NZ$189

-46.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$1.75 NZ$3.11

72.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.33

$1.66 NZ$2.94

-38.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$32.70 NZ$58.1

-88.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.76

$1.62 NZ$2.87

-9.26%

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

$26.8K ฿903.4K

$26.7K NZ$47.5K

0.17%

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

$26.7K ฿900.5K

$22.1K NZ$39.3K

20.68%

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

$96.4 ฿3,251

$119 NZ$212

-19.18%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$27.03 NZ$48.00

-58.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

$50.7 NZ$90.1

-66.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

$38.13 NZ$67.7

76.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$10.34 NZ$18.35

-27.47%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$1,059 NZ$1,880

-55.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.0K

$19.4K NZ$34.5K

-42.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,104

$79.4 NZ$141

-21.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

$33.58 NZ$59.6

-15.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,181

$95.7 NZ$170

-1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,895

$111 NZ$198

-22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$968 NZ$1,719

-26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$800 NZ$1,420

-38.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$1,620 NZ$2,876

18.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$1,288 NZ$2,286

11.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$4,323 NZ$7,676

-3.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

$2,871 NZ$5,098

6.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

$5,793 NZ$10.3K

-91.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.37

3.72%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kerikeri: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Kerikeri

$800 42.1% 63% $309

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Kerikeri

$337 17.7% 26.4% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Kerikeri

$197 10.4% 58.2% $73

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Kerikeri

$144 7.6% 18.1% $22

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Kerikeri

$242 12.7% 98.5% $120

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Kerikeri

$59 3.1% 28.5% $23

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Kerikeri

$123 6.5% 74.6% $53

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $968 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 in Kerikeri are about 12 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $69 in Kerikeri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $337 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇳🇿 Kerikeri

🕒 Local time

03:18 3:18 AM

09:18 9:18 AM

6 h ahead of Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

8,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

New Zealand Dollar NZD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 NZD = 0.563 USD

1 NZD = 0.504 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Kerikeri 9,220 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Kerikeri

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Kerikeri costs about 49% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,852 in Kerikeri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $968 in Kerikeri.

Public transport costs about 47% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $1,059 in Kerikeri. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Kerikeri at $1,901. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kerikeri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kerikeri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.