Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Miyazaki Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Miyazaki

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,172 in Miyazaki.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,801 in Miyazaki.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,430 in Miyazaki.

Living in Phuket is roughly 7% more expensive than in Miyazaki, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Miyazaki 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$7.58 ¥1,231
-39.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$34.03 ¥5,530
35.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$5.23 ¥849
69.02%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.06 ¥173
188.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.80 ¥129
-8.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.66 ¥108
-39.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$1.86 ¥302
30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$4.23 ¥687
-10.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.56 ¥253
44.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.67 ¥271
8.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$4.11 ¥667
-45.26%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.29 ¥373
-1.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$13.83 ¥2,247
41.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$6.23 ¥1,012
-41.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$13.63 ¥2,214
-4.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$3.49 ¥567
-7.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.81 ¥293
-10.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$3.14 ¥510
-24.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$2.85 ¥463
-28.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.70 ¥277
-10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.78 ¥289
-15.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.90 ¥147
8.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.80 ¥130
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$3.81 ¥620
16.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$6.26 ¥1,018
192.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$2.00 ¥325
-7.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.06 ¥334
30.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$1.64 ¥267
-14.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$56.3 ¥9,141
-79.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$3.70 ¥601
-15.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$3.01 ¥489
-65.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$17.44 ¥2,834
-19.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.11 ¥180
18.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$23.1K ¥3.8M
20.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$16.3K ¥2.7M
103.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$116 ¥18.9K
5.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$27.02 ¥4,391
-49.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$35.19 ¥5,717
-46.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$56.8 ¥9,235
6.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$13.74 ¥2,232
23.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$12.95 ¥2,104
-29.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$418 ¥67.9K
68.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$13.6K ¥2.2M
16.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$43.90 ¥7,133
33.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$29.97 ¥4,869
17.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$62.2 ¥10.1K
85.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$61.3 ¥9,961
36.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$462 ¥75.1K
35.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$331 ¥53.8K
34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$872 ¥141.6K
134.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$656 ¥106.6K
127.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$4,954 ¥804.8K
-29.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$1,781 ¥289.4K
44.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,216 ¥197.6K
-58.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
1.67
219.16%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Miyazaki: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $462 in Miyazaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miyazaki pays 143% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $34.00 in Miyazaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $275 per month, with Miyazaki 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 Miyazaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Miyazaki?
Phuket and Miyazaki differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $1,172 including rent). Miyazaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 143% lower in Miyazaki. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Miyazaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $462 in Miyazaki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miyazaki – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Miyazaki?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $1,172 in Miyazaki – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,172 in Miyazaki versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miyazaki but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Miyazaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Miyazaki?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Miyazaki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Miyazaki are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Miyazaki?
Expats usually find Miyazaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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