Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koysinjaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koysinjaq

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $725 in Koysinjaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,072 in Koysinjaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,420 in Koysinjaq.

Living in Phuket is roughly 74% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$2.34 IQD 3,062

91.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

267.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$8.74 IQD 11.4K

0.23%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.55 IQD 2,028

91.61%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.40 IQD 520

72.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.19 IQD 247

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.91 IQD 2,504

32.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.13 IQD 2,783

76.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.18 IQD 1,540

82.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.78 IQD 1,025

133.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.13 IQD 1,480

92.92%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.55 IQD 2,027

45.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$7.21 IQD 9,441

177.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.88 IQD 5,080

-6.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$9.28 IQD 12.2K

46.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$0.78 IQD 1,026

315.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.13 IQD 1,473

45.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$1.12 IQD 1,469

108.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.56 IQD 732

269.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.59 IQD 778

162.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.59 IQD 769

147.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.36 IQD 477

172.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.36 IQD 473

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.26 IQD 2,955

92.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

47.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.42 IQD 1,862

30.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.95 IQD 2,549

35.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.40 IQD 520

255.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-62.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.54 IQD 2,018

105.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.75 IQD 980

37.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$3.74 IQD 4,892

271.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$0.66 IQD 860

103.03%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

42.80%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$18.5K IQD 24.3M

80.22%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$102 IQD 133.0K

21.11%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

-20.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-39.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

63.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

0.70%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-22.47%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

963.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$1,154 IQD 1.5M

1267.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$15.40 IQD 20.2K

285.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

82.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

42.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

329.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$243 IQD 318.5K

155.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$177 IQD 231.2K

152.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$585 IQD 766.6K

247.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$340 IQD 445.3K

339.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.67

-6.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $243 in Koysinjaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $162 per month, with Koysinjaq cheaper across the board.

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 Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $1,087 in Koysinjaq 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $243 in Koysinjaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $725 in Koysinjaq – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 167% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $725 in Koysinjaq versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koysinjaq but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Koysinjaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Koysinjaq delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $725 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koysinjaq hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Koysinjaq 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 Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.