Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kununurra

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,371 in Kununurra, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Kununurra, Australia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Kununurra
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kununurra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kununurra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,371 in Kununurra.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Kununurra $2,371

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $3,541 in Kununurra.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Kununurra $3,541

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $4,711 in Kununurra.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Kununurra $4,711

Living in Phuket costs roughly 46% less than in Kununurra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Kununurra is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$16.09 A$22.86
-72.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$82.5 A$117
-60.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$12.02 A$17.07
-26.71%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$4.18 A$5.94
-32.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$2.83 A$4.02
-69.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$1.96 A$2.79
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$6.61 A$9.40
-61.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$7.67 A$10.90
-52.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.52 A$2.16
9.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$2.72 A$3.86
-46.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.29 A$3.25
-34.50%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$5.49 A$7.80
-61.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$9.16 A$13.01
108.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.44 A$13.42
-65.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.75 A$20.96
-26.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$3.76 A$5.35
-22.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$3.12 A$4.44
-45.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.28 A$4.65
-31.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$4.56 A$6.48
-54.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.65 A$3.77
-43.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$2.38 A$3.39
-42.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$2.41 A$3.42
-55.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$1.53 A$2.17
-66.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$26.81 A$38.09
-84.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$13.89 A$19.74
35.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$4.86 A$6.91
-62.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$5.16 A$7.33
-44.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$2.45 A$3.48
-40.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$84.3 A$120
-32.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.80 A$5.40
-20.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$1.78 A$2.53
-42.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$35.87 A$51.0
-89.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.36 A$1.94
8.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$28.5K A$40.5K
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$22.6K A$32.1K
18.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$209 A$297
-53.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$27.61 A$39.23
-59.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$57.8 A$82.1
-70.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$56.8 A$80.7
18.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$16.06 A$22.82
-33.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$12.94 A$18.39
-42.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$2,289 A$3,252
-79.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$23.0K A$32.7K
-51.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$75.8 A$108
-17.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$47.66 A$67.7
-40.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$107 A$152
-11.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$118 A$168
-27.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,407 A$1,999
-49.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,079 A$1,533
-54.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$2,336 A$3,319
-17.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,827 A$2,596
-21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$5,605 A$7,964
-25.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$5,305 A$7,537
-42.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kununurra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.9
-5.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kununurra: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Kununurra
$1.1K 120% $588
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Kununurra
$369 38.6% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Kununurra
$295 137% $170
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Kununurra
$157 28.6% $35
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Kununurra
$283 132% $161
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Kununurra
$83 0.5% $0.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Kununurra
$107 51.3% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,407 in Kununurra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $82 in Kununurra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $369 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇦🇺 Kununurra
🕒 Local time
23:52 11:52 PM
00:52 12:52 AM
1 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
5,300
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kununurra 4,250 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kununurra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 46% 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 and in Kununurra?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $3,557 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 compared to Kununurra?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,407 in Kununurra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Kununurra?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $82 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 $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $2,371 in Kununurra – a 86% 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 in Kununurra?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,371 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 offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Kununurra?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
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 46% less than in Kununurra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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