Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $430 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $770 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,110 in Kilifi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 194% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$2.27 KES 294

107.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$50.9 KES 6,593

-10.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$2.37 KES 307

255.70%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.91 KES 248

53.40%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.80 KES 103

-13.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.76 KES 98.2

-51.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.89 KES 245

27.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.88 KES 114

153.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.75 KES 97.2

144.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.96 KES 254

10.71%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.88 KES 243

17.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.28 KES 295

43.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$0.90 KES 117

78.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.79 KES 232

34.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.70 KES 90.2

197.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.64 KES 82.5

139.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.60 KES 77.6

146.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.24 KES 31.25

112.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$12.57 KES 1,628

54.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.97 KES 255

-9.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.75 KES 97.6

82.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$26.74 KES 3,464

-57.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.76 KES 98.1

30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.31 KES 170

3.82%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

$15.25 KES 1,976

698.03%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$10.26 KES 1,329

32.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$24.87 KES 3,222

-26.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$27.59 KES 3,574

118.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.57 KES 981

14.80%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$163 KES 21.1K

326.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$4,961 KES 642.6K

216.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$9.76 KES 1,265

509.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$9.06 KES 1,174

283.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$15.31 KES 1,984

648.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$17.27 KES 2,238

382.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$177 KES 22.9K

246.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$114 KES 14.7K

284.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$266 KES 34.5K

686.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$269 KES 34.8K

461.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$228 KES 29.5K

122.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $177 in Kilifi. 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 123% higher in Phuket, 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 $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $100 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $430 in Kilifi – roughly 194% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $645 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $163 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 193% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $430, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $430 in Kilifi to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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