Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kisii Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kisii

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $64.9 in Kisii.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $101 in Kisii.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $137 in Kisii.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1850% more expensive than Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Kisii 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.43 KES 185

104.90%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.34 KES 174

-48.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.81 KES 234

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.37 KES 307

56.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.48 KES 62.6

281.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

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

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.38 KES 49.01

260.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$15.43 KES 1,999

-26.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.75 KES 97.0

302.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.62 KES 210

-16.05%

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

$11.5K KES 1.5M

186.38%

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kisii: June 1, 2026

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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 1850% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $97.3 in Kisii to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $64.9 in Kisii – a 1850% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2272% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $64.9 in Kisii versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kisii but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kisii the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kisii delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $64.9 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kisii hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Kisii are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1850% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.