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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $931 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,586 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,242 in Moka, rent included.

Phuket costs about 34% 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

$4.55 ฿153

$6.46 MUR 304

-29.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$44.21 MUR 2,077

4.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$6.74 MUR 317

31.16%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.65 MUR 124

15.47%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.03 MUR 48.39

-29.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.60 MUR 28.35

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.16 MUR 101

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.70 MUR 127

40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.40 MUR 65.9

61.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.70 MUR 32.65

158.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.29 MUR 60.5

74.42%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.23 MUR 105

0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$10.13 MUR 476

92.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$6.17 MUR 290

-40.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$10.64 MUR 500

22.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.98 MUR 92.8

63.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.96 MUR 92.2

-17.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.44 MUR 67.7

65.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$2.73 MUR 128

-25.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.02 MUR 48.04

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.99 MUR 46.73

51.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.84 MUR 39.58

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.47 MUR 22.01

10.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$5.87 MUR 276

-24.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.20 MUR 479

79.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.78 MUR 83.4

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.67 MUR 78.5

60.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$1.05 MUR 49.25

34.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$12.99 MUR 610

-9.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$2.68 MUR 126

16.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$2.64 MUR 124

-60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$15.55 MUR 731

-9.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.38 MUR 64.9

-5.07%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$36.0K MUR 1.7M

-22.79%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

17.17%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$49.81 MUR 2,340

145.81%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$18.48 MUR 868

-26.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$26.86 MUR 1,262

-30.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$24.58 MUR 1,155

146.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$5.99 MUR 281

51.42%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$154 MUR 7,217

359.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$4,002 MUR 188.0K

294.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$74.9 MUR 3,516

-21.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$36.58 MUR 1,718

-3.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$93.8 MUR 4,405

23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$56.0 MUR 2,628

49.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$524 MUR 24.6K

19.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$329 MUR 15.5K

35.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$936 MUR 44.0K

118.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$703 MUR 33.0K

112.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$677 MUR 31.8K

-26.21%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $524 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 36% higher in Moka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Moka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $216 – 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 34%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,396 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 $706 per month in Phuket and $154 in Moka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $931, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.