Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mawlamyine Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mawlamyine

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $641 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $941 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,240 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

Phuket costs about 92% more than Mawlamyine, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mawlamyine are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Mawlamyine 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.97 MMK 4,118

123.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$5.07 MMK 10.6K

76.13%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

$1.03 MMK 2,152

181.55%

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

$0.51 MMK 1,072

72.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.51 MMK 3,171

146.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

$0.87 MMK 1,819

114.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

$0.52 MMK 1,096

182.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$3.02 MMK 6,319

-30.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

$8.52 MMK 17.8K

129.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$2.11 MMK 4,422

62.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$3.87 MMK 8,106

194.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

$1.61 MMK 3,372

85.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$0.92 MMK 1,926

82.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.71 MMK 3,577

29.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$2.70 MMK 5,659

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$1.53 MMK 3,211

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

$0.36 MMK 756

272.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

$1.54 MMK 3,219

-26.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$0.20 MMK 415

175.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.21 MMK 2,534

47.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

$1.81 MMK 3,790

53.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

$1.53 MMK 3,212

45.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.01 MMK 4,214

50.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

$2.48 MMK 5,198

-58.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

$1.73 MMK 3,630

-13.87%

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

$50.5K MMK 105.7M

-47.33%

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

$35.4K MMK 74.1M

-23.58%

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

$102 ฿3,411

$74.4 MMK 155.8K

37.71%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$25.33 MMK 53.0K

-55.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

$50.3 MMK 105.2K

-65.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

$121 MMK 254.1K

-57.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

$5.04 MMK 10.6K

119.64%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$9.96 MMK 20.9K

-22.79%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$505 MMK 1.1M

11.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

$9,146 MMK 19.1M

25.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

$39.54 MMK 82.8K

59.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

$35.94 MMK 75.3K

-17.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

$23.62 MMK 49.5K

274.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$249 MMK 522.1K

196.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$119 MMK 249.7K

304.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.1K

$605 MMK 1.3M

248.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$246 MMK 514.3K

399.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

$786 MMK 1.6M

359.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

$495 MMK 1.0M

426.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mawlamyine: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $249 in Mawlamyine. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Mawlamyine: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 92% more than Mawlamyine, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $961 in Mawlamyine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mawlamyine, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $641 in Mawlamyine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 109% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mawlamyine, where all-in costs run around $641, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Mawlamyine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mawlamyine costs $641 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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