Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maroua

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $348 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Maroua, Cameroon
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Maroua
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Maroua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Maroua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $348 in Maroua.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Maroua $348

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $519 in Maroua.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Maroua $519

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $690 in Maroua.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Maroua $690

Living in Phuket is roughly 267% more expensive than in Maroua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.40
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.66 FCFA 972
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.29
$0.84 FCFA 489
73.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.84 FCFA 1,662
-47.18%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$5.62 FCFA 3,290
-62.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$5.13 FCFA 2,998
271.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$5.24 FCFA 3,064
-37.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$3.31 FCFA 1,936
229.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.8
$1.72 FCFA 1,003
70.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$0.87 FCFA 508
94.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$0.87 FCFA 511
158.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.74 FCFA 1,016
19.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.60 FCFA 1,519
-41.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.51
$1.71 FCFA 1,000
-19.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.95
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.50
$0.82 FCFA 480
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$11.12 FCFA 6,504
68.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$0.87 FCFA 511
109.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$1.75 FCFA 1,022
62.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.97
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,911
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.32
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.75
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,250
$51.6 FCFA 30.2K
86.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$8.43 FCFA 4,932
33.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$16.99 FCFA 9,937
295.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$1.69 FCFA 988
534.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,103
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,180
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,894
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$83.7 FCFA 48.9K
486.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$154 FCFA 89.9K
831.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maroua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Maroua: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Maroua
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Maroua
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Maroua
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Maroua
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Maroua
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Maroua
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Maroua
–
Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇲 Maroua
🕒 Local time
02:02 2:02 AM
20:02 8:02 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
3,119,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 653 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Maroua 9,200 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Maroua

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Maroua cheaper than Phuket?
Maroua is about 73% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,917 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Maroua?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Maroua?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $348 in Maroua – Maroua is about 73% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Maroua?
At $348 in Maroua versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 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.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Maroua?
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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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