Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kununurra Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kununurra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,233 in Kununurra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,245 in Kununurra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,257 in Kununurra.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 45% less than in Kununurra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Kununurra is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$16.52 A$23.13
-71.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$78.7 A$110
-40.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$9.51 A$13.31
-7.05%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$3.48 A$4.87
-13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.57 A$3.60
-71.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$2.10 A$2.94
-82.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$6.33 A$8.86
-61.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$7.15 A$10.01
-49.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.48 A$2.08
52.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$2.33 A$3.26
-21.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$2.01 A$2.81
11.44%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$4.24 A$5.94
-45.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$8.77 A$12.27
124.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$8.50 A$11.89
-57.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$13.77 A$19.28
-4.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.32 A$4.65
2.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.76 A$3.87
-40.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.89 A$4.05
-16.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$4.06 A$5.69
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.52 A$3.53
-38.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.18 A$3.05
-31.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$2.10 A$2.95
-51.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$1.53 A$2.14
-67.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$25.75 A$36.05
-82.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$14.42 A$20.18
30.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$4.66 A$6.53
-61.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$5.39 A$7.54
-48.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$2.63 A$3.68
-46.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$64.9 A$90.9
-82.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.63 A$5.09
-14.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.63 A$2.28
-38.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$34.02 A$47.63
-58.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.14 A$1.59
18.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$28.6K A$40.0K
-4.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$22.0K A$30.9K
49.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$184 A$258
-32.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$27.04 A$37.85
-49.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$53.4 A$74.8
-65.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$47.99 A$67.2
28.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$15.76 A$22.07
6.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$12.88 A$18.04
-28.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$1,611 A$2,255
-56.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$12.2K A$17.0K
28.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$67.9 A$95.0
-14.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$50.5 A$70.7
-30.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$99.7 A$140
13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$106 A$149
-18.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$1,273 A$1,783
-51.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$1,047 A$1,466
-57.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$2,003 A$2,804
2.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$1,706 A$2,389
-12.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$5,748 A$8,047
-34.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$4,846 A$6,784
-45.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.34
-15.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kununurra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,273 in Kununurra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $79.0 in Kununurra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $340 per month, with Phuket 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 Kununurra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kununurra?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Kununurra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Kununurra?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $3,350 in Kununurra 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Kununurra?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,273 in Kununurra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Kununurra?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $79.0 in Kununurra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Kununurra?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,233 in Kununurra – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Kununurra?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,233 in Kununurra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kununurra. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kununurra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kununurra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kununurra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Kununurra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities