Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mehar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mehar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $391 in Mehar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $589 in Mehar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $786 in Mehar.

Living in Phuket is roughly 223% more expensive than in Mehar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Mehar 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿153
$1.81 PKR 502
150.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,565
$10.63 PKR 2,952
336.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿292
$4.01 PKR 1,114
115.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74 PKR 483
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.49 PKR 969
-
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$1.43 PKR 397
116.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.89
$0.31 PKR 87.1
119.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.44
$0.23 PKR 63.9
60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿129
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$0.75 PKR 209
190.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.3
$0.60 PKR 168
203.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$1.21 PKR 335
80.17%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.4
$1.13 PKR 313
98.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿673
$5.90 PKR 1,639
237.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿123
$2.59 PKR 718
40.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿458
$3.63 PKR 1,009
273.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$1.01 PKR 280
225.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$0.64 PKR 179
164.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.8
$0.63 PKR 174
269.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.4
$0.52 PKR 145
290.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$0.34 PKR 95.0
370.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.5
$0.51 PKR 141
192.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.17
$0.34 PKR 93.2
197.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.37 PKR 102
29.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.33 PKR 369
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.87 PKR 241
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 PKR 567
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$1.92 PKR 534
131.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿629
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.4
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.90
$0.19 PKR 53.0
647.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿382
$7.05 PKR 1,957
60.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$0.92 PKR 254
235.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.19
$0.40 PKR 111
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿460
$1.73 PKR 479
687.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.23
$0.90 PKR 249
45.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿920.7K
$21.1K PKR 5.9M
29.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$22.7K PKR 6.3M
46.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,157
$103 PKR 28.5K
19.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿466
$3.94 PKR 1,095
250.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿625
$13.98 PKR 3,882
32.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,037
$12.18 PKR 3,380
395.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿567
$5.88 PKR 1,633
185.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿300
$3.44 PKR 956
158.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.2K
$29.49 PKR 8,186
2228.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿524.8K
$1,128 PKR 313.2K
1278.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,945
$15.46 PKR 4,292
272.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,170
$22.26 PKR 6,180
55.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,879
$70.4 PKR 19.5K
63.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,865
$29.10 PKR 8,080
191.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.8K
$75.2 PKR 20.9K
721.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿15.0K
$51.4 PKR 14.3K
762.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿69.1K
$165 PKR 45.9K
1138.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.8K
$104 PKR 28.9K
1345.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿120.4K
$787 PKR 218.5K
353.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.7K
$434 PKR 120.5K
478.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mehar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿17.0K
$109 PKR 30.3K
361.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
19
-71.95%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mehar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $75.2 in Mehar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 361% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $11.00 in Mehar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $86.0 per month, with Mehar 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 Mehar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mehar?
Mehar wins on cost – living expenses run 223% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mehar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Mehar?
Average pay runs 361% higher in Phuket, 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 compared to Mehar?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $75.2 in Mehar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Mehar?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $391 in Mehar – a 223% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Mehar?
A monthly transit pass in Mehar runs roughly 61% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Mehar?
At $391 in Mehar versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mehar but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Mehar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mehar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mehar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $391 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mehar hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mehar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mehar 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 Mehar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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