Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kukes Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kukes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $976 in Kukes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,436 in Kukes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,896 in Kukes.

Living in Phuket is roughly 28% more expensive than in Kukes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Kukes 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$9.38 ALL 765

-51.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$37.26 ALL 3,039

23.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$6.90 ALL 563

28.12%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.86 ALL 151

64.52%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.57 ALL 128

-53.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.82 ALL 67.0

-51.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.29 ALL 187

6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.24 ALL 264

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.56 ALL 127

44.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.85 ALL 69.3

112.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.02 ALL 164

11.39%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$3.04 ALL 248

-25.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$9.29 ALL 757

110.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$7.21 ALL 588

-49.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$8.15 ALL 664

60.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.15 ALL 94.0

180.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.79 ALL 146

-9.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$0.99 ALL 80.4

140.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.39 ALL 113

46.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.74 ALL 60.1

106.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.79 ALL 64.3

89.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.93 ALL 75.8

5.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.72 ALL 58.9

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$3.55 ALL 290

25.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$7.27 ALL 593

151.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.91 ALL 74.6

104.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.72 ALL 140

55.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.49 ALL 40.11

187.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$18.63 ALL 1,519

-37.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$3.59 ALL 293

-13.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$3.16 ALL 258

-67.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$4.63 ALL 377

204.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$2.11 ALL 172

-37.91%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-20.43%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$24.9K ALL 2.0M

33.40%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$67.8 ALL 5,529

80.62%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$17.32 ALL 1,413

-21.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$16.14 ALL 1,317

15.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$54.9 ALL 4,476

10.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$25.12 ALL 2,048

-32.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$3.46 ALL 282

162.14%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$95.4 ALL 7,777

640.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$35.24 ALL 2,874

66.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$23.28 ALL 1,898

51.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$41.26 ALL 3,365

179.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$50.2 ALL 4,092

66.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$442 ALL 36.1K

41.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$346 ALL 28.2K

28.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$603 ALL 49.1K

238.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$429 ALL 35.0K

247.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,835 ALL 149.7K

89.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,204 ALL 98.2K

113.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$520 ALL 42.4K

-3.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

33.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kukes: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $442 in Kukes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kukes pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Kukes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $199 per month, with Kukes 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 Kukes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kukes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Kukes. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $442 in Kukes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kukes runs roughly 59% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $95.4 in Kukes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $976 in Kukes versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kukes but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kukes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kukes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Kukes 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 Kukes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.