😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $745 in Khemisset.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,164 in Khemisset.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $1,583 in Khemisset.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 70% more expensive than in Khemisset, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Khemisset46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$1.59MAD 14.91
193.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$37.45MAD 352
-13.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$7.36MAD 69.1
17.93%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$0.84MAD 7.91
245.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$0.81MAD 7.62
3.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.23MAD 2.17
113.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$6.27MAD 58.9
-60.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$5.31MAD 49.86
-29.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$0.90MAD 8.46
110.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.46MAD 4.36
206.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.41MAD 13.27
14.89%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$1.89MAD 17.75
18.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$10.61MAD 99.7
86.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$7.13MAD 67.0
-51.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$8.39MAD 78.8
35.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$0.95MAD 8.90
205.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.14MAD 10.75
50.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$0.77MAD 7.22
194.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$0.42MAD 3.90
407.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$0.66MAD 6.24
122.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.66MAD 6.24
115.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.48MAD 4.47
129.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.62MAD 5.78
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.34MAD 40.79
-0.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$9.52MAD 89.5
95.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$3.86MAD 36.30
-53.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$4.07MAD 38.23
-27.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.56MAD 5.22
301.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
$19.34MAD 182
21.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$0.73MAD 6.82
324.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.88MAD 8.31
22.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$9.97MAD 93.7
-61.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.55MAD 14.59
-7.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$35.4KMAD 332.4K
-21.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$30.4KMAD 285.7K
-11.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$36.71MAD 345
185.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$6.58MAD 61.8
73.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$40.34MAD 379
-56.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$13.40MAD 126
305.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$21.53MAD 202
-46.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$7.58MAD 71.2
2.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$97.0MAD 912
494.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$6,417MAD 60.3K
80.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$37.07MAD 348
71.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$50.7MAD 477
-42.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$101MAD 951
-4.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$107MAD 1,007
-16.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$275MAD 2,580
167.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$177MAD 1,662
183.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$476MAD 4,477
346.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$281MAD 2,645
344.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$1,256MAD 11.8K
181.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$870MAD 8,173
201.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Khemisset
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$400MAD 3,758
26.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
3.67
51.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Khemisset: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $275 in Khemisset. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 27% 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 $37.00 in Khemisset. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $195, with Khemisset 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 Khemisset: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Khemisset?
Phuket and Khemisset differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $745 including rent). Khemisset is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Khemisset?
Average pay runs 27% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Khemisset?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $275 in Khemisset. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khemisset – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Khemisset?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $745 in Khemisset – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $745 in Khemisset versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khemisset but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Khemisset the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Khemisset?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Khemisset safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Khemisset are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Khemisset?
Expats usually find Khemisset gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.