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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $357 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $528 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $699 in Maroua.

Living in Phuket is roughly 245% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.80 FCFA 1,031

3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.87 FCFA 496

68.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$3.01 FCFA 1,721

-48.50%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$5.85 FCFA 3,344

-64.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$5.38 FCFA 3,076

264.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$5.16 FCFA 2,951

-33.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$3.46 FCFA 1,978

228.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.81 FCFA 1,035

64.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.90 FCFA 516

86.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.86 FCFA 491

156.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.80 FCFA 1,026

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

-41.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.80 FCFA 1,030

-25.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.91 FCFA 521

-39.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$11.27 FCFA 6,440

69.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.84 FCFA 478

111.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.74 FCFA 996

59.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$51.9 FCFA 29.6K

97.59%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$8.68 FCFA 4,961

30.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$17.66 FCFA 10.1K

194.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$1.74 FCFA 995

536.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$88.8 FCFA 50.7K

443.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$159 FCFA 90.7K

672.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Maroua: September 12, 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, Getting Around. The 245% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $535 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 41% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $357 in Maroua – a 245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $357 in Maroua versus $1,232 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 245% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.