Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kuantan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kuantan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $891 in Kuantan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,253 in Kuantan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,615 in Kuantan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 41% more than Kuantan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kuantan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Kuantan 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$2.47 MYR 10.00

79.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$12.08 MYR 48.82

190.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$3.59 MYR 14.51

149.58%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$2.92 MYR 11.81

2.74%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.69 MYR 2.79

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$0.41 MYR 1.67

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$3.40 MYR 13.75

-29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$5.63 MYR 22.73

-33.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.67 MYR 6.74

8.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$0.83 MYR 3.35

71.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$1.43 MYR 5.79

8.39%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.29 MYR 5.23

65.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$9.68 MYR 39.10

104.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$3.20 MYR 12.92

8.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$4.47 MYR 18.05

148.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$2.75 MYR 11.11

5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$1.86 MYR 7.50

-10.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$2.76 MYR 11.16

-17.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$1.82 MYR 7.37

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$1.76 MYR 7.09

-16.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$1.99 MYR 8.03

-29.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.71 MYR 2.86

53.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$0.56 MYR 2.27

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$4.40 MYR 17.76

1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$20.05 MYR 81.0

-6.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$1.91 MYR 7.73

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$2.02 MYR 8.15

46.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

$0.47 MYR 1.89

380.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

$12.23 MYR 49.43

88.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$1.14 MYR 4.59

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$0.38 MYR 1.54

186.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$9.52 MYR 38.46

-59.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$0.52 MYR 2.11

186.54%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$34.1K MYR 137.9K

-19.61%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$33.0K MYR 133.2K

-16.56%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$39.62 MYR 160

156.97%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$8.41 MYR 33.99

34.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$24.29 MYR 98.1

-26.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

$40.84 MYR 165

32.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

$7.13 MYR 28.80

53.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$4.61 MYR 18.60

70.28%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$283 MYR 1,142

104.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$10.6K MYR 42.6K

10.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$52.5 MYR 212

24.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$30.23 MYR 122

-4.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$49.53 MYR 200

100.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$49.19 MYR 199

83.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

$431 MYR 1,742

75.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

$350 MYR 1,415

39.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

$719 MYR 2,904

190.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

$488 MYR 1,973

147.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

$2,049 MYR 8,279

75.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

$1,128 MYR 4,555

131.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

$972 MYR 3,927

-48.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.15

34.22%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Kuantan: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $431 in Kuantan. 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 94% higher in Kuantan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Phuket versus $12.00 in Kuantan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $212 – making Kuantan 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 Kuantan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,337 in Kuantan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Phuket and $283 in Kuantan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kuantan. 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.