Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Molo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Molo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $516 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $847 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,178 in Molo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 145% more expensive than Molo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$5.37 KES 696

-15.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$38.20 KES 4,953

22.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$6.68 KES 866

26.80%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.43 KES 316

24.69%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.72 KES 93.3

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.50 KES 64.7

-26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.39 KES 310

4.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.86 KES 371

27.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.94 KES 122

131.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.53 KES 68.5

258.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.64 KES 213

34.15%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.68 KES 218

32.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$11.60 KES 1,504

72.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.68 KES 866

-45.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$5.77 KES 749

129.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.06 KES 397

5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.05 KES 136

61.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.10 KES 273

13.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.02 KES 132

103.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.08 KES 140

47.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.11 KES 144

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.64 KES 83.0

60.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.75 KES 96.9

-30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$3.02 KES 392

40.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$11.46 KES 1,486

63.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$2.18 KES 283

-19.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.75 KES 356

0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$1.58 KES 205

98.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.58 KES 204

-34.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$2.91 KES 378

373.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.56 KES 203

-14.10%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$21.3K KES 2.8M

29.86%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$19.7K KES 2.6M

71.77%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$34.50 KES 4,474

258.23%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$16.63 KES 2,156

-18.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$38.70 KES 5,018

-51.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$6.37 KES 826

43.49%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$206 KES 26.8K

240.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$8,045 KES 1.0M

97.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$18.33 KES 2,376

224.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$24.45 KES 3,170

43.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$66.5 KES 8,625

73.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$55.6 KES 7,205

51.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$388 KES 50.3K

30.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

14.84

-64.08%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Molo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $205 per month, with Molo 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 Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Molo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Phuket pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $516 in Molo – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $516 in Molo versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Molo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Molo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Molo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Molo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.