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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $646 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $935 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,223 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

Phuket costs about 89% more than Mawlamyine, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mawlamyine are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mawlamyine 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$1.97 MMK 4,119

128.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$4.88 MMK 10.2K

73.98%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$0.98 MMK 2,047

214.29%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.48 MMK 1,006

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$1.49 MMK 3,113

143.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$0.92 MMK 1,930

138.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$0.51 MMK 1,069

254.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$3.02 MMK 6,313

-25.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$8.55 MMK 17.9K

129.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$2.08 MMK 4,350

78.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$3.84 MMK 8,030

250.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$1.67 MMK 3,503

101.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$0.91 MMK 1,901

78.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$1.77 MMK 3,697

36.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$2.73 MMK 5,713

-27.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$1.54 MMK 3,220

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$0.34 MMK 704

326.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$1.55 MMK 3,252

-34.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.21 MMK 439

128.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.18 MMK 2,474

55.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$1.83 MMK 3,835

49.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$0.38 MMK 788

273.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$1.97 MMK 4,125

52.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$2.57 MMK 5,387

-59.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.73 MMK 3,617

-25.43%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$50.0K MMK 104.7M

-43.96%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$35.5K MMK 74.3M

-5.60%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$75.7 MMK 158.5K

61.09%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$25.01 MMK 52.4K

-44.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$51.0 MMK 106.7K

-62.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$119 MMK 248.5K

-48.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

$5.14 MMK 10.8K

227.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$3.98 MMK 8,330

123.37%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$495 MMK 1.0M

39.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$9,174 MMK 19.2M

76.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$39.34 MMK 82.4K

46.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$35.87 MMK 75.1K

-1.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$24.33 MMK 50.9K

241.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$246 MMK 514.8K

146.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$121 MMK 254.2K

268.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$603 MMK 1.3M

236.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$251 MMK 525.0K

495.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$798 MMK 1.7M

349.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$491 MMK 1.0M

427.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.60%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Mawlamyine: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $246 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 89% 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 $1,835 per month in Phuket and $970 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 $1,223 in Phuket and $646 in Mawlamyine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 121% 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 $646, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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 $646 versus $1,223 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.