Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kololi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kololi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $117 in Kololi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $275 in Kololi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $432 in Kololi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 969% more than Kololi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kololi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Kololi 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

$45.12 GMD 3,316

-27.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.3

$2.76 GMD 203

1.45%

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

$0.88 ฿28.96

$2.35 GMD 173

-62.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.09

$1.01 GMD 74.0

-51.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.6

$6.99 GMD 513

-65.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$4.78 GMD 351

-22.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.43

$1.29 GMD 94.8

11.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

Eggs

$2.13 ฿70.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿373

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.37

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.90

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

$6.56 GMD 482

180.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.09

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

$27.1K ฿892.5K

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

$27.5K ฿903.2K

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

$103 ฿3,382

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

$10.99 ฿362

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,761

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿390.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,108

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿957

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,157

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,972

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kololi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $45.00 in Kololi. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Phuket vs $26.00 in Kololi – so Kololi 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 Kololi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,253 in Phuket, $117 in Kololi – roughly 969% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $176 in Kololi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $45.00 in Kololi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $117 in Kololi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kololi, where all-in costs run around $117, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Kololi 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 $117 in Kololi to $1,253 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 Kololi. 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.