Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moka Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $938 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,584 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,230 in Moka, rent included.

Phuket costs about 35% more than Moka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Moka 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$6.55 MUR 309

-28.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$44.24 MUR 2,090

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.64 MUR 314

26.96%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.57 MUR 122

14.01%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.95 MUR 44.79

-27.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.61 MUR 28.60

-39.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.16 MUR 102

11.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.76 MUR 130

34.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.43 MUR 67.5

55.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.66 MUR 31.35

177.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.27 MUR 60.2

70.87%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.27 MUR 107

-2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$9.72 MUR 459

103.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.04 MUR 285

-39.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.31 MUR 487

31.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.99 MUR 93.9

64.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.93 MUR 91.1

-16.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.45 MUR 68.4

66.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.70 MUR 128

-22.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.03 MUR 48.60

48.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.00 MUR 47.11

48.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.83 MUR 39.29

19.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.47 MUR 22.35

8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.97 MUR 282

-26.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$8.21 MUR 388

136.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.78 MUR 84.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.66 MUR 78.6

63.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$1.00 MUR 47.18

37.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$13.16 MUR 622

-13.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$2.68 MUR 127

12.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$2.72 MUR 129

-63.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$15.33 MUR 724

-8.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.38 MUR 65.3

-1.45%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$35.3K MUR 1.7M

-20.09%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$28.9K MUR 1.4M

13.79%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$48.75 MUR 2,303

149.64%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$18.01 MUR 851

-24.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$26.82 MUR 1,267

-31.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$24.30 MUR 1,148

147.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$6.20 MUR 293

40.16%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$153 MUR 7,243

352.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$3,980 MUR 188.0K

294.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$77.2 MUR 3,647

-22.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$36.63 MUR 1,731

-5.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$92.9 MUR 4,390

23.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$55.9 MUR 2,643

48.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$516 MUR 24.4K

18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$327 MUR 15.5K

33.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$948 MUR 44.8K

120.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$705 MUR 33.3K

113.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$321 MUR 15.2K

58.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.25

-14.72%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Moka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $516 in Moka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Moka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $209 – making Moka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Moka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,406 in Moka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $153 in Moka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Moka. 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.