Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mata Utu

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $5,221 in Mata Utu, rent and utilities included – about $47,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Mata Utu

🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna

$5,221

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Mata Utu

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 Mata Utu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $5,221 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Mata Utu $5,221

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $6,618 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Mata Utu $6,618

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $8,015 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Mata Utu $8,015

Phuket is about 76% cheaper than Mata Utu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 284% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$11.02 CFPF 1,176

-59.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$110 CFPF 11.8K

-70.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.5

$7.83 CFPF 835

-63.86%

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

$0.87 ฿29.43

$5.56 CFPF 593

-84.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.67

$3.29 CFPF 351

-85.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$5.65 CFPF 603

-34.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.35

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿644

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿99.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.99

$11.06 CFPF 1,180

-90.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.52

$4.59 CFPF 489

-88.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$17.00 CFPF 1,814

-75.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$16.57 CFPF 1,768

13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,913

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.36

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.81

$1.86 CFPF 199

-20.97%

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

$26.8K ฿904.3K

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

$26.7K ฿901.3K

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

$96.4 ฿3,254

$143 CFPF 15.3K

-32.82%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$114 CFPF 12.1K

-90.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$3,321 CFPF 354.3K

-99.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,270

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

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

$476 ฿16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,106

$225 CFPF 24.0K

-72.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$90.9 CFPF 9,696

-68.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,184

$224 CFPF 23.9K

-57.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,898

$276 CFPF 29.4K

-68.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$909 CFPF 97.0K

-21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$915 CFPF 97.6K

-46.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.1K

$2,264 CFPF 241.6K

-14.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$2,266 CFPF 241.8K

-36.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿141.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$3,355 CFPF 358.0K

-85.03%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Mata Utu

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Mata Utu

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Mata Utu

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Mata Utu

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Mata Utu

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Mata Utu

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Mata Utu

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $909 in Mata Utu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Mata Utu are about 6.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $110 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $132 in Mata Utu – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇼🇫 Mata Utu

🕒 Local time

04:12 4:12 AM

09:12 9:12 AM

5 h ahead of Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

1,200 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Mata Utu 9,720 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Mata Utu

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Phuket, $5,221 in Mata Utu – Phuket comes out roughly 76% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $7,832 in Mata Utu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $909 in Mata Utu.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $110 in Mata Utu. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $5,221 in Mata Utu. That makes Phuket about 76% cheaper.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Mata Utu at $5,221. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Phuket to $5,221 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.