Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $348 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $513 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $679 in Maroua.

Living in Phuket is roughly 262% more expensive than Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.78 FCFA 1,007

22.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.86 FCFA 484

120.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$3.09 FCFA 1,744

-28.80%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.78 FCFA 1,573

-20.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$5.31 FCFA 2,999

276.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.37 FCFA 3,034

-31.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$3.59 FCFA 2,028

269.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.71 FCFA 964

88.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.87 FCFA 490

95.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.85 FCFA 483

181.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.72 FCFA 970

20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.68 FCFA 1,514

-40.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.72 FCFA 970

-13.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.85 FCFA 478

-38.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$11.40 FCFA 6,440

64.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$0.92 FCFA 521

91.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

54.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

$52.0 FCFA 29.4K

137.63%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$8.97 FCFA 5,067

50.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

248.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$1.73 FCFA 977

897.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$88.7 FCFA 50.1K

387.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$159 FCFA 89.6K

852.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Maroua: June 9, 2026

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maroua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 262% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $522 in Maroua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $348 in Maroua – a 262% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $348 in Maroua versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maroua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Maroua 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 Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.