Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Loja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $752 in Loja, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,104 in Loja, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,456 in Loja, rent included.

Phuket costs about 68% more than Loja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Loja are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Loja 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$2.96 $2.96

58.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$19.63 $19.63

131.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.17 $7.17

17.57%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.85 $1.85

58.38%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.65 $0.65

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.46 $0.46

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.98 $0.98

145.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.02 $2.02

84.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.03 $1.03

116.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.34 $1.34

36.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.57 $1.57

38.22%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.87 $1.87

18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$5.60 $5.60

252.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.56 $4.56

-20.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$6.17 $6.17

119.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.37 $1.37

139.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$0.96 $0.96

67.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.97 $0.97

148.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.08 $1.08

92.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.80 $0.80

91.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.82 $0.82

80.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.47 $0.47

110.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.07 $1.07

-52.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.92 $5.92

-25.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$7.08 $7.08

173.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.49 $1.49

19.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.85 $2.85

-4.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.29 $0.29

372.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$39.70 $39.70

-71.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.67 $0.67

350.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.97 $0.97

2.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$13.24 $13.24

6.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.63 $0.63

115.87%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$14.8K $14.8K

91.07%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$29.1K $29.1K

13.04%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$20.16 $20.16

503.67%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$10.38 $10.38

30.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$28.38 $28.38

-35.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$34.36 $34.36

75.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$14.47 $14.47

18.45%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.40 $7.40

17.43%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$182 $182

281.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$2,030 $2,030

672.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$55.6 $55.6

7.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$49.95 $49.95

-30.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$83.4 $83.4

37.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$65.3 $65.3

27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$288 $288

112.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$232 $232

88.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$419 $419

400.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$329 $329

359.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$562 $562

566.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$498 $498

425.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$495 $495

2.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-46.70%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Loja: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $288 in Loja. 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 3% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $20.00 in Loja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $164 – making Loja 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 Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $752 in Loja – roughly 68% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,128 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Loja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 249% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $182 in Loja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Loja 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 $752 in Loja to $1,265 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 Loja. 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.