For one person, living is cheaper in Khoy: $355 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Khoy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $355 in Khoy.
Phuket $1,294
Khoy $355
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $722 in Khoy.
Phuket $2,204
Khoy $722
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $1,089 in Khoy.
Phuket $3,115
Khoy $1,089
🌍
Living in Phuket is roughly 265% more expensive than in Khoy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket4% lower, Khoy74% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39฿147
$1.80$1.80
143.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31฿1,080
$14.99$14.99
115.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70฿291
$3.56$3.56
144.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.77$0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.25$1.25
-
Cappuccino
$2.72฿91.1
$1.08$1.08
151.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93฿31.11
$0.52$0.52
78.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.70
$1.11$1.11
-54.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74฿58.2
$0.70$0.70
148.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.51
$0.51$0.51
184.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50฿50.2
$2.07$2.07
-27.54%
Eggs
$2.17฿72.6
$1.25$1.25
73.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.09฿638
$4.51$4.51
323.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$3.57$3.57
-4.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿364
$10.07$10.07
8.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94฿98.3
$1.01$1.01
191.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿56.6
$1.43$1.43
18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19฿73.4
$1.16$1.16
88.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12฿71.0
$0.68$0.68
211.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.77
$0.55$0.55
165.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37฿45.74
$0.64$0.64
114.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08฿35.98
$0.51$0.51
111.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.27$0.27
103.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.79$0.79
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51$0.51
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.41$1.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43฿148
$2.56$2.56
73.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.25฿610
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77฿59.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88฿96.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45฿48.40
$0.17$0.17
752.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.9฿1,835
$9.62$9.62
470.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.42$0.42
259.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78฿25.94
$0.32$0.32
143.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.84฿128
$2.98$2.98
28.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.74
$0.10$0.10
1390.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K฿898.9K
$50.8K$50.8K
-47.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K฿881.0K
$45.3K$45.3K
-41.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.8฿3,271
$12.78$12.78
665.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29฿378
$2.05$2.05
450.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19฿575
$3.82$3.82
350.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3฿2,285
$18.62$18.62
266.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92฿365
$14.17$14.17
-22.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43฿248
$2.04$2.04
264.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$530฿17.7K
$106$106
398.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8K฿628.1K
$2,677$2,677
601.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7฿2,062
$22.95$22.95
168.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25฿945
$28.37$28.37
-0.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,210
$97.1$97.1
-1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8฿2,903
$27.00$27.00
221.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$721฿24.1K
$90.7$90.7
694.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$509฿17.0K
$60.6$60.6
739.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,950฿65.2K
$799$799
144.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,397฿46.7K
$361$361
287.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,192฿140.2K
$1,146$1,146
265.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,298฿110.3K
$527$527
526.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Khoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$492฿16.4K
$213$213
130.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
24.3
-77.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026
Last update for Khoy: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509 39.3%
Khoy
$61 17.1% ↓ 88.1%$448
🛒Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267 20.6%
Khoy
$117 32.9% ↓ 56.2%$150
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126 9.8%
Khoy
$19 5.3% ↓ 85.2%$108
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123 9.5%
Khoy
$79 22.3% ↓ 35.7%$44
🍽Eating Out
Phuket
$120 9.2%
Khoy
$45 12.6% ↓ 62.7%$75
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83 6.4%
Khoy
$23 6.4% ↓ 72.7%$60
🚌Getting Around
Phuket
$66 5.1%
Khoy
$12 3.5% ↓ 81.4%$54
🏠Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$1.4K 44.8%
Khoy
$361 33.1% ↓ 74.2%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$602 19.3%
Khoy
$287 26.3% ↓ 52.4%$316
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$138 4.4%
Khoy
$21 1.9% ↓ 84.9%$117
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$273 8.8%
Khoy
$175 16.1% ↓ 35.7%$97
🍽Eating Out
Phuket
$393 12.6%
Khoy
$161 14.8% ↓ 59%$232
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$177 5.7%
Khoy
$60 5.5% ↓ 66.4%$118
🚌Getting Around
Phuket
$135 4.3%
Khoy
$25 2.3% ↓ 81.5%$110
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $91 in Khoy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays about 2.3 times 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 in Phuket vs $15 in Khoy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $117 per month, with Khoy cheaper across the board.
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 Khoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Khoy?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $355 in Khoy, so Khoy is about 73% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Khoy?
Average pay in Phuket is about 2.3 times higher, 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 Khoy?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $91 in Khoy. 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 Khoy – a meal for two runs $15 versus $32 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Khoy?
All in, you’ll spend $1,294 per month in Phuket versus $355 in Khoy – Khoy is about 73% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $355 in Khoy versus $1,294 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Khoy but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Khoy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Khoy?
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 Khoy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Khoy are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Khoy?
Expats usually find Khoy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.