Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $434 in Masindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $706 in Masindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $978 in Masindi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 191% more expensive than Masindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Masindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$2.81 UGX 10.5K

62.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$26.94 UGX 101.0K

73.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$8.51 UGX 31.9K

-0.47%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

7.45%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.47 UGX 1,777

46.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.29 UGX 1,087

27.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.37 UGX 5,136

81.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

29.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.70 UGX 2,632

211.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.26 UGX 4,708

50.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.32 UGX 4,955

66.67%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.76 UGX 6,611

26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$4.35 UGX 16.3K

359.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.88 UGX 18.3K

-25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$4.21 UGX 15.8K

214.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.79 UGX 10.5K

15.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.51 UGX 5,670

12.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.71 UGX 6,423

39.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.54 UGX 5,769

35.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.59 UGX 5,953

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.93 UGX 7,230

-23.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.06 UGX 3,975

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.53 UGX 1,998

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.96 UGX 11.1K

43.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$8.73 UGX 32.7K

115.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.19 UGX 4,461

47.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.15 UGX 8,041

28.37%

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

$0.54 UGX 2,030

481.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.26 UGX 969

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$4.26 UGX 15.9K

223.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.45 UGX 5,453

-7.59%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$9,094 UGX 34.1M

204.35%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$8,938 UGX 33.5M

278.85%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$42.45 UGX 159.1K

191.14%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$14.44 UGX 54.1K

-6.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$43.90 UGX 164.5K

-57.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$6.16 UGX 23.1K

48.38%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$164 UGX 614.3K

328.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$4,304 UGX 16.1M

268.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$16.66 UGX 62.5K

256.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$14.52 UGX 54.4K

141.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$39.26 UGX 147.1K

193.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$46.28 UGX 173.5K

81.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

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

20.8

-74.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Masindi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Masindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $167 per month, with Masindi 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 Masindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Masindi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 191% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $651 in Masindi 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 76% 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 $434 in Masindi – a 191% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $434 in Masindi versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Masindi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Masindi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Masindi 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 Masindi 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 Masindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.