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: $1,264 in Phuket versus $355 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $517 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $679 in Maroua.

Living in Phuket is roughly 256% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Maroua 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.84 FCFA 475

116.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

-26.60%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

-20.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

274.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

-29.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

285.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

81.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$0.85 FCFA 483

92.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.85 FCFA 482

174.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

16.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

-41.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.72 FCFA 975

-15.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.91 FCFA 517

-47.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

63.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$0.87 FCFA 492

113.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

47.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

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

$123 ฿4,105

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

131.38%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

54.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

248.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

848.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

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

$688 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

396.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$158 FCFA 89.5K

849.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 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 256% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $532 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 60% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $355 in Maroua – a 256% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Maroua versus $1,264 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 256% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.