Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kitakyushu Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kitakyushu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,233 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,926 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,620 in Kitakyushu, rent included.

Phuket and Kitakyushu have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Phuket and Kitakyushu are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Kitakyushu 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$7.22 ¥1,128

-38.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$33.59 ¥5,246

-3.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$5.55 ¥867

60.90%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.37 ¥526

-13.95%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$1.04 ¥162

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.70 ¥109

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$2.97 ¥463

-20.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.26 ¥352

64.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.53 ¥239

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$1.31 ¥204

12.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$5.55 ¥867

-72.07%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.26 ¥354

-7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$9.98 ¥1,559

96.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$5.49 ¥857

-37.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$19.18 ¥2,996

-40.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$3.71 ¥579

-19.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$1.85 ¥289

-9.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$2.88 ¥450

-23.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$2.97 ¥464

-27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$2.26 ¥354

-32.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$2.60 ¥406

-48.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$1.09 ¥171

3.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.94 ¥147

-41.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$4.04 ¥631

5.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$6.40 ¥1,000

198.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.78 ¥278

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$1.76 ¥276

57.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$1.64 ¥257

35.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

$58.2 ¥9,094

-60.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.93 ¥614

-22.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$2.06 ¥322

-50.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$18.42 ¥2,876

-78.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$1.06 ¥165

40.57%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$21.3K ¥3.3M

24.85%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$17.6K ¥2.8M

53.22%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$195 ¥30.5K

-47.50%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$25.26 ¥3,944

-55.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$33.60 ¥5,248

-48.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$52.3 ¥8,171

-0.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

$3.15 ¥493

251.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$11.52 ¥1,798

-33.25%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$389 ¥60.8K

43.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$12.4K ¥1.9M

-6.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$39.38 ¥6,151

60.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$24.50 ¥3,826

20.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$60.7 ¥9,473

61.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$48.25 ¥7,535

83.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$520 ¥81.2K

41.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$331 ¥51.7K

45.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$1,049 ¥163.9K

100.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$739 ¥115.4K

65.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

$3,702 ¥578.1K

-2.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

$1,776 ¥277.3K

46.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$1,527 ¥238.4K

-67.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

1.69

229.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kitakyushu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $520 in Kitakyushu. 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 209% higher in Kitakyushu. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $34.00 in Kitakyushu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $284 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kitakyushu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,850 in Kitakyushu. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Kitakyushu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $389 in Kitakyushu. 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 $1,232, than in Kitakyushu at $1,233. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kitakyushu 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 $1,232 in Phuket to $1,233 in Kitakyushu. 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kitakyushu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.