Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lampang Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lampang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $829 in Lampang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,366 in Lampang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,902 in Lampang, rent included.

Phuket costs about 53% more than Lampang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Lampang are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Lampang 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$1.99 ฿65.0
136.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$18.56 ฿606
144.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$6.14 ฿200
37.30%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$1.26 ฿41.12
132.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.35 ฿11.55
97.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.33 ฿10.73
12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.55 ฿50.8
55.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.69 ฿120
0.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.64 ฿53.7
35.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.55 ฿50.5
18.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.14 ฿37.08
90.35%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$1.98 ฿64.7
11.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$15.98 ฿522
23.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$3.00 ฿98.0
21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$10.99 ฿359
23.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.63 ฿85.9
24.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.19 ฿38.75
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.63 ฿53.3
47.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.59 ฿52.1
30.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.39 ฿45.39
10.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.20 ฿39.31
23.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.68 ฿22.15
45.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.52 ฿16.83
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$4.65 ฿152
-5.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$18.31 ฿598
5.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.86 ฿60.9
-4.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.16 ฿103
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.94 ฿30.68
45.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.42 ฿46.51
112.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.30 ฿42.32
-23.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$8.00 ฿261
76.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.10 ฿35.80
23.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$21.7K ฿710.0K
29.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$22.0K ฿718.8K
49.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$30.60 ฿999
297.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$13.75 ฿449
-1.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$17.78 ฿581
2.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$49.62 ฿1,621
21.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$12.08 ฿395
41.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$5.50 ฿180
58.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$302 ฿9,863
129.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$14.9K ฿486.8K
5.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$31.86 ฿1,041
86.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$26.23 ฿857
32.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$86.2 ฿2,816
32.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$72.1 ฿2,355
15.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$425 ฿13.9K
44.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$286 ฿9,338
52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$803 ฿26.2K
160.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$660 ฿21.5K
128.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,990 ฿65.0K
88.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,679 ฿54.9K
55.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lampang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$623 ฿20.4K
-18.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3
77.67%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lampang: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $425 in Lampang. 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 23% higher in Lampang, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Lampang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $243 – making Lampang 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 Lampang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lampang cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,244 in Lampang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lampang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Lampang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $19.00 in Lampang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Lampang?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Lampang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lampang, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Lampang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Lampang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lampang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Lampang?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lampang. 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities