Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Long Mountain Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Long Mountain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $619 in Long Mountain, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $966 in Long Mountain, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,314 in Long Mountain, rent included.

Phuket costs about 99% more than Long Mountain, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Long Mountain are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Long Mountain 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$5.93 MUR 282
-25.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$31.61 MUR 1,501
2.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$7.56 MUR 359
18.12%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$1.34 MUR 63.8
116.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.27
$1.03 MUR 49.13
-14.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.00
$0.63 MUR 29.89
-23.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$2.06 MUR 97.8
14.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.70 MUR 128
37.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.0
$1.44 MUR 68.5
29.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.75
$0.20 MUR 9.48
635.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.10 MUR 52.2
40.91%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$2.64 MUR 125
-20.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿651
$5.27 MUR 250
271.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$3.75 MUR 178
-8.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$7.28 MUR 346
56.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.2
$2.07 MUR 98.5
43.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.0
$1.76 MUR 83.5
-4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.39 MUR 65.9
58.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$1.61 MUR 76.7
34.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$0.95 MUR 45.02
60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.49
$1.01 MUR 47.82
32.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.53
$0.73 MUR 34.86
54.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.17
$0.66 MUR 31.26
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$6.60 MUR 314
-35.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$6.34 MUR 301
201.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.58 MUR 75.0
12.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.5
$2.09 MUR 99.4
33.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.1
$0.83 MUR 39.44
168.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$4.33 MUR 206
-30.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.02
$3.11 MUR 148
-67.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$21.54 MUR 1,023
-81.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.57
$1.40 MUR 66.4
6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿883.8K
$36.7K MUR 1.7M
-27.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿898.7K
$31.4K MUR 1.5M
-14.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,407
$44.71 MUR 2,124
129.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$10.81 MUR 514
4.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$28.70 MUR 1,363
-39.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,732
$6.48 MUR 308
703.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
$16.67 MUR 792
-33.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$6.47 MUR 307
18.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$125 MUR 5,941
348.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.6K
$864 MUR 41.0K
1232.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,096
$31.24 MUR 1,484
101.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$42.04 MUR 1,997
-29.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,259
$64.3 MUR 3,054
52.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,943
$62.7 MUR 2,979
41.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
$160 MUR 7,582
362.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
$130 MUR 6,169
271.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.0K
$211 MUR 10.0K
896.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$181 MUR 8,599
577.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
$3,771 MUR 179.1K
-4.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.5K
$3,173 MUR 150.7K
-17.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Long Mountain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$1,043 MUR 49.6K
-52.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Long Mountain: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $160 in Long Mountain. 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 111% higher in Long Mountain, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $32.00 in Long Mountain. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $163 in Long Mountain – so Long Mountain wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Long Mountain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Long Mountain cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $928 in Long Mountain. 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 Long Mountain, 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 in Long Mountain?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $32.00 in Long Mountain. 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 in Long Mountain?
Groceries cost about 68% 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 living in Phuket or in Long Mountain?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Long Mountain, where all-in costs run around $619, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Long Mountain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Long Mountain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Long Mountain – 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 Long Mountain?
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 Long Mountain. 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.

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