Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lihir Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lihir Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $233 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $428 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $623 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Phuket costs about 443% more than Lihir Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Lihir Island are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Lihir Island 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$4.86 PGK 21.43

-7.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$28.36 PGK 125

60.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$6.18 PGK 27.25

41.75%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$2.43 PGK 10.71

22.22%

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

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.75 PGK 3.30

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.73 PGK 3.22

-46.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$3.63 PGK 16.00

-30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.45 PGK 10.79

53.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.73 PGK 7.63

24.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$1.42 PGK 6.26

28.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$1.48 PGK 6.51

47.30%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$2.31 PGK 10.20

-2.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.21 PGK 18.55

-13.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$2.33 PGK 10.27

481.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$1.46 PGK 6.46

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.44 PGK 10.77

-36.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$0.98 PGK 4.32

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$0.50 PGK 2.22

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$5.98 PGK 26.36

-27.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$2.35 PGK 10.36

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$2.43 PGK 10.70

9.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

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

$27.8K ฿929.6K

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

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

$123 ฿4,116

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

$13.77 ฿461

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

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

$688 ฿23.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $115 – making Lihir Island 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 Lihir Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $233 in Lihir Island – roughly 443% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $349 in Lihir Island. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $28.00 in Lihir Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $233 in Lihir Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $233, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Lihir Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $233 in Lihir Island to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lihir Island. 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.