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 $637 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $929 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,221 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

Phuket costs about 93% 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

$4.63 ฿151

$1.99 MMK 4,177

132.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$4.96 MMK 10.4K

78.23%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$0.98 MMK 2,056

206.12%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.49 MMK 1,025

51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$1.54 MMK 3,236

134.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.87 MMK 1,821

159.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$0.52 MMK 1,090

253.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.95 MMK 6,200

-21.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$8.16 MMK 17.1K

141.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$2.12 MMK 4,446

72.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$3.73 MMK 7,839

251.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$1.60 MMK 3,363

111.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$0.93 MMK 1,942

76.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.76 MMK 3,697

36.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$2.75 MMK 5,763

-26.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.52 MMK 3,186

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$0.34 MMK 704

341.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.51 MMK 3,163

-32.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.22 MMK 463

122.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.22 MMK 2,552

45.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.79 MMK 3,752

53.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.37 MMK 786

278.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.98 MMK 4,146

57.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$2.53 MMK 5,312

-60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.70 MMK 3,569

-20.59%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$49.5K MMK 103.8M

-45.03%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$35.0K MMK 73.4M

-5.87%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$73.7 MMK 154.6K

69.67%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$24.55 MMK 51.5K

-44.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$49.58 MMK 104.1K

-62.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$122 MMK 255.7K

-49.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$4.98 MMK 10.4K

238.15%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$4.03 MMK 8,449

128.04%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$507 MMK 1.1M

37.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$8,966 MMK 18.8M

73.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$39.39 MMK 82.7K

46.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$36.35 MMK 76.3K

-3.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$23.74 MMK 49.8K

263.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$246 MMK 516.6K

150.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$118 MMK 247.8K

277.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$598 MMK 1.3M

242.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$253 MMK 530.9K

489.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$790 MMK 1.7M

378.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$505 MMK 1.1M

424.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mawlamyine: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 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 93% 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 $956 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 $637 in Mawlamyine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 125% 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 $637, 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 $637 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.