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: $1,265 in Phuket versus $876 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,489 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,103 in Lusaka.

Living in Phuket is roughly 45% more expensive than Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Lusaka 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$7.11 ZMW 127

-33.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$24.96 ZMW 446

81.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

132.23%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

45.77%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

151.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

104.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

76.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

147.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

37.34%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

24.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$7.86 ZMW 140

151.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

-5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

196.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

31.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

1.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

-10.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

77.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

-18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

13.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

73.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.95 ZMW 195

76.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

57.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

80.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

42.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$38.24 ZMW 683

-70.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

-13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$8.92 ZMW 159

58.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

14.29%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

253.96%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

15.89%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

35.10%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$53.6 ZMW 956

-74.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$127 ZMW 2,263

-85.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$45.11 ZMW 805

33.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$13.99 ZMW 250

22.52%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

102.56%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$177 ZMW 3,161

291.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

64.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$19.25 ZMW 344

209.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$17.27 ZMW 308

101.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

33.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

12.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$224 ZMW 4,007

173.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$120 ZMW 2,148

263.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

98.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$585 ZMW 10.4K

158.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

90.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

-38.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$296 ZMW 5,286

71.58%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $224 in Lusaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 72% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Lusaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $177 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 45% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $876 including rent). Lusaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Phuket pays 72% more on average, 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: $613 in Phuket versus $224 in Lusaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $876 in Lusaka – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lusaka runs roughly 236% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $876 in Lusaka versus $1,265 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 45% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.