😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,066 in Miyazaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,705 in Miyazaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,343 in Miyazaki.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 18% more expensive than in Miyazaki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Miyazaki22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$6.08¥950
-25.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$27.75¥4,335
17.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$4.56¥713
95.18%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.25¥351
24.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$1.07¥167
-17.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.61¥95.8
-19.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$1.55¥242
54.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.24¥351
65.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$1.28¥199
39.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$1.59¥248
-9.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$2.56¥400
-38.28%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.98¥309
7.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$12.35¥1,929
61.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$5.31¥830
-35.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$19.37¥3,026
-41.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$3.62¥565
-18.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.72¥269
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$2.77¥432
-16.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$3.07¥479
-32.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$1.83¥286
-19.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$1.85¥290
-26.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.62¥96.6
77.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.92¥143
-38.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$3.77¥588
13.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$6.24¥975
195.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$1.64¥255
14.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$1.88¥294
55.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$1.51¥236
47.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$54.1¥8,447
-57.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$3.39¥530
-10.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$1.98¥310
-45.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$16.00¥2,499
-75.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$1.05¥163
41.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$21.9K¥3.4M
24.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$15.0K¥2.3M
82.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$106¥16.5K
-2.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$24.60¥3,843
-55.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$32.44¥5,068
-46.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$44.63¥6,973
19.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$11.10¥1,734
-32.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$123¥19.2K
352.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$12.3K¥1.9M
-3.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$38.05¥5,944
68.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$23.82¥3,721
22.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$56.7¥8,849
69.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$46.47¥7,259
94.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$471¥73.6K
54.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$327¥51.0K
53.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$978¥152.8K
113.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$628¥98.1K
92.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$4,691¥732.8K
-23.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$2,101¥328.2K
19.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Miyazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$1,249¥195.1K
-59.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
1.97
182.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Miyazaki: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $471 in Miyazaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Miyazaki pays 148% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Miyazaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $270 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 18% in total monthly costs ($1,253 vs $1,066 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 148% 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: $730 in Phuket versus $471 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 $28.00 versus $33.00 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 $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $1,066 in Miyazaki – a 18% 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 $1,066 in Miyazaki versus $1,253 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 18% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.