Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mayari Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mayari

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,522 in Mayari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,904 in Mayari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,287 in Mayari.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 19% less than in Mayari, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Mayari is 14% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$5.96 CUP 143
-22.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$19.66 CUP 472
138.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$6.62 CUP 159
33.53%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.27 CUP 30.54
136.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.18 CUP 52.4
-66.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$1.23 CUP 29.63
-69.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.45 CUP 58.8
-0.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$3.07 CUP 73.8
17.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$3.03 CUP 72.7
-25.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.83 CUP 20.03
121.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$2.49 CUP 59.8
-10.04%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$3.19 CUP 76.5
-27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$5.96 CUP 143
230.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$5.40 CUP 130
-32.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$11.73 CUP 282
11.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$5.01 CUP 120
-32.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.18 CUP 28.28
38.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.37 CUP 32.82
75.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.49 CUP 35.65
36.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.89 CUP 45.24
-17.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.92 CUP 70.2
-48.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.01 CUP 24.26
0.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$1.08 CUP 25.84
-54.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$3.46 CUP 83.0
28.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$10.05 CUP 241
87.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.70 CUP 40.75
4.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$1.90 CUP 45.52
44.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.19 CUP 4.47
636.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$19.67 CUP 472
-41.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$2.30 CUP 55.3
35.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.42 CUP 9.97
138.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$20.33 CUP 488
-30.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.23 CUP 29.63
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$71.4K CUP 1.7M
-61.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$78.8K CUP 1.9M
-58.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$35.35 CUP 848
253.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$40.35 CUP 968
-66.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$246 CUP 5,914
-92.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$39.71 CUP 953
54.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$14.84 CUP 356
13.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$0.99 CUP 23.65
828.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$118 CUP 2,836
490.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$17.4K CUP 416.7K
-10.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$55.4 CUP 1,328
4.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$39.55 CUP 949
-10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$45.31 CUP 1,088
149.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$49.82 CUP 1,196
73.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$211 CUP 5,062
191.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$665 CUP 16.0K
-32.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$384 CUP 9,216
433.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$689 CUP 16.5K
116.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$392 CUP 9,404
864.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$349 CUP 8,382
658.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mayari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$21.67 CUP 520
2317.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10
-46.70%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mayari: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $211 in Mayari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 2317% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $20.00 in Mayari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $247 per month, with Mayari 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 Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mayari?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Mayari. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Mayari?
Phuket pays 2317% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Mayari?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $211 in Mayari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Mayari?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $20.00 in Mayari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Mayari?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,522 in Mayari – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Mayari?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,522 in Mayari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mayari. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mayari?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mayari?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mayari are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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