Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lira Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $427 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $685 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $943 in Lira, rent included.

Phuket costs about 186% more than Lira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Lira are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Lira 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$2.81 UGX 10.4K

60.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$26.05 UGX 96.4K

78.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$8.86 UGX 32.8K

-4.18%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$2.80 UGX 10.4K

10.00%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.29 UGX 1,086

134.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.27 UGX 993

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$0.80 UGX 2,974

203.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

32.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$0.71 UGX 2,626

208.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$1.24 UGX 4,592

45.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$1.35 UGX 4,988

65.19%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$1.84 UGX 6,827

21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$4.30 UGX 15.9K

355.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$4.89 UGX 18.1K

-23.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$4.15 UGX 15.4K

224.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$2.67 UGX 9,893

25.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.54 UGX 5,712

5.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$1.67 UGX 6,175

44.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$1.60 UGX 5,913

24.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$1.65 UGX 6,120

-7.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$1.94 UGX 7,175

-25.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$1.06 UGX 3,939

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.57 UGX 2,120

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

43.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$9.16 UGX 33.9K

108.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.18 UGX 4,386

55.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$2.05 UGX 7,604

33.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$0.58 UGX 2,149

417.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.28 UGX 1,046

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$4.06 UGX 15.0K

242.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.49 UGX 5,497

-13.42%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$8,985 UGX 33.3M

212.02%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$8,866 UGX 32.8M

277.90%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$42.61 UGX 157.7K

186.27%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$14.17 UGX 52.4K

-1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$44.74 UGX 165.6K

-57.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$6.27 UGX 23.2K

41.79%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$160 UGX 592.7K

331.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$4,295 UGX 15.9M

276.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$17.32 UGX 64.1K

233.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$14.03 UGX 51.9K

152.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$38.66 UGX 143.1K

193.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$46.97 UGX 173.8K

76.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

20.8

-74.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Lira: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $26.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $168 – making Lira 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 Lira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 186%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $641 in Lira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $427 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $160 in Lira. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lira, where all-in costs run around $427, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Lira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Lira. 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.