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 $922 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,530 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,137 in Moka, rent included.

Phuket costs about 37% more than Moka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Phuket and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Moka 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$6.31 MUR 295

-26.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$27.95 MUR 1,308

15.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$6.77 MUR 317

28.21%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$4.25 MUR 199

-31.76%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$1.06 MUR 49.50

-20.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.33 MUR 15.45

48.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$2.70 MUR 127

-8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.29 MUR 154

13.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.46 MUR 68.3

29.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.93 MUR 43.41

51.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$1.66 MUR 77.7

-2.41%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$3.14 MUR 147

-28.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$10.60 MUR 496

-67.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$15.06 MUR 705

-24.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$3.04 MUR 142

-4.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$1.68 MUR 78.7

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$4.18 MUR 196

-45.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$4.18 MUR 196

-49.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$1.04 MUR 48.72

41.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$1.04 MUR 48.74

36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$0.99 MUR 46.54

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.57 MUR 26.65

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$6.37 MUR 298

-32.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$10.16 MUR 476

83.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$2.20 MUR 103

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$2.29 MUR 107

29.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$3.24 MUR 152

-4.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$1.61 MUR 75.4

-11.18%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$25.8K MUR 1.2M

7.52%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$42.4K MUR 2.0M

-36.40%

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

$105 ฿3,462

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

$11.39 ฿376

$4.31 MUR 202

164.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$23.87 MUR 1,117

-26.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$21.51 MUR 1,007

152.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$5.87 MUR 275

32.54%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$127 MUR 5,939

354.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$84.3 MUR 3,945

-24.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$42.08 MUR 1,970

-30.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$94.9 MUR 4,439

1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$78.3 MUR 3,664

14.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$519 MUR 24.3K

41.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

$315 MUR 14.8K

58.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

$891 MUR 41.7K

138.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$708 MUR 33.1K

76.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$697 MUR 32.6K

-27.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-7.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Moka: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $519 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 37% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Moka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $256 – 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 37%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,384 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $922 in Moka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $127 in Moka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $922, 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.