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: $1,253 in Phuket versus $907 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,534 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,161 in Lusaka.

Living in Phuket is roughly 38% more expensive than in Lusaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Lusaka 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$5.70 ZMW 109

-20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

$31.91 ZMW 609

2.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$5.31 ZMW 101

67.61%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$2.98 ZMW 57.0

-6.04%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$0.82 ZMW 15.73

7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.47 ZMW 9.02

4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

75.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$2.34 ZMW 44.68

58.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$1.86 ZMW 35.53

-3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

$1.25 ZMW 23.79

15.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$2.19 ZMW 41.74

-27.85%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.05 ZMW 39.17

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$10.75 ZMW 205

85.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$6.54 ZMW 125

-47.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$6.75 ZMW 129

67.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

$3.55 ZMW 67.9

-16.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$2.50 ZMW 47.66

-31.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$3.72 ZMW 71.0

-37.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.59 ZMW 30.34

30.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

$2.74 ZMW 52.3

-46.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

$1.97 ZMW 37.63

-30.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

$1.15 ZMW 21.91

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

-31.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.22 ZMW 61.4

32.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

$10.52 ZMW 201

75.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$1.48 ZMW 28.18

26.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

$2.47 ZMW 47.26

18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

$1.02 ZMW 19.56

117.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

$52.1 ZMW 995

-56.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$2.67 ZMW 51.1

13.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

$1.56 ZMW 29.78

-31.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$5.23 ZMW 99.9

-24.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

$1.58 ZMW 30.13

-5.70%

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

$7,791 ZMW 148.8K

248.20%

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

$27.7K ZMW 529.1K

-0.90%

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

$103 ฿3,380

$83.7 ZMW 1,598

22.89%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$11.07 ZMW 211

-0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$56.7 ZMW 1,083

-69.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$56.4 ZMW 1,076

-5.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

$15.97 ZMW 305

-29.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$6.37 ZMW 122

17.43%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$147 ZMW 2,802

279.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

$16.6K ZMW 317.2K

-28.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

$24.76 ZMW 473

158.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$16.00 ZMW 306

81.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

$47.84 ZMW 914

100.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$77.1 ZMW 1,472

17.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$389 ZMW 7,424

87.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$183 ZMW 3,492

173.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$1,118 ZMW 21.3K

87.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

$596 ZMW 11.4K

102.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,896 ZMW 36.2K

89.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$5,285 ZMW 100.9K

-52.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$336 ZMW 6,414

49.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $389 in Lusaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 50% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $32.00 in Lusaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $249 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 38% in total monthly costs ($1,253 vs $907 including rent). Lusaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 50% 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: $730 in Phuket versus $389 in Lusaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $907 in Lusaka – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lusaka runs roughly 127% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $907 in Lusaka versus $1,253 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 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.