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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $430 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $686 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $943 in Lira, rent included.

Phuket costs about 194% more than Lira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Lira are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Lira 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

64.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$26.88 UGX 100.6K

69.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$8.54 UGX 32.0K

2.58%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

9.19%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.27 UGX 1,008

155.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.27 UGX 1,006

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$0.84 UGX 3,158

201.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.71 UGX 10.1K

38.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$0.72 UGX 2,678

198.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$1.19 UGX 4,473

52.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.33 UGX 4,985

63.91%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.81 UGX 6,795

24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$4.20 UGX 15.7K

376.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$5.07 UGX 19.0K

-28.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$4.35 UGX 16.3K

211.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.49 UGX 5,566

10.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$1.75 UGX 6,547

33.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.58 UGX 5,922

31.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.57 UGX 5,865

-1.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.93 UGX 7,218

-24.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.05 UGX 3,949

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.54 UGX 2,032

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$2.90 UGX 10.9K

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$8.12 UGX 30.4K

128.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.24 UGX 4,644

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$2.06 UGX 7,708

28.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.57 UGX 2,135

456.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.26 UGX 964

296.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

236.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.50 UGX 5,599

-10.67%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$9,050 UGX 33.9M

207.08%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$8,631 UGX 32.3M

286.77%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$42.95 UGX 160.8K

186.50%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$14.30 UGX 53.5K

-3.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$43.05 UGX 161.2K

-57.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$6.41 UGX 24.0K

38.38%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$161 UGX 601.9K

327.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$4,383 UGX 16.4M

260.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$17.24 UGX 64.6K

243.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$14.40 UGX 53.9K

140.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$39.05 UGX 146.2K

194.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$47.91 UGX 179.4K

74.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lira: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $166 – 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 194%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $644 in Lira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $430 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $161 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 $430, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.