Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $855 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,450 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,045 in Lusaka.

Living in Phuket is roughly 46% more expensive than in Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Lusaka 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$7.01 ZMW 128

-35.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$24.68 ZMW 449

87.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

138.92%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

58.55%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

8.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

158.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

105.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

69.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

126.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

42.41%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

27.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$7.92 ZMW 144

146.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

-3.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

175.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

25.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

3.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

-12.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

74.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.63 ZMW 194

72.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

70.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.96 ZMW 17.51

46.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$39.17 ZMW 713

-70.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$2.78 ZMW 50.7

11.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$9.20 ZMW 167

53.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

10.08%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

252.50%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

16.84%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

34.98%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$53.4 ZMW 972

-74.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$123 ZMW 2,239

-84.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$45.44 ZMW 827

33.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$13.65 ZMW 248

24.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

113.41%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$178 ZMW 3,232

297.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

67.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$18.67 ZMW 340

213.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$17.20 ZMW 313

105.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

36.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$228 ZMW 4,157

173.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$125 ZMW 2,273

256.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$1,028 ZMW 18.7K

98.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$593 ZMW 10.8K

151.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,886 ZMW 34.3K

84.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$14.2K ZMW 258.2K

-81.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$287 ZMW 5,215

74.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-78.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $228 in Lusaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Lusaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $178 per month, with Lusaka cheaper across the board.

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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Lusaka differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $855 including rent). Lusaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $228 in Lusaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $855 in Lusaka – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lusaka runs roughly 235% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $855 in Lusaka versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lusaka but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lusaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Lusaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lusaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.