Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moratuwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moratuwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $72.9 in Moratuwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $125 in Moratuwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $177 in Moratuwa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 1637% more than Moratuwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Moratuwa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Moratuwa 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$1.40 LKR 466

59.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.49 LKR 162

273.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$0.92 LKR 308

135.87%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$2.62 LKR 875

-15.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$13.62 LKR 4,544

44.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$0.11 LKR 36.26

1145.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,978

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: June 1, 2026

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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1637%, 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 $109 in Moratuwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $72.9 in Moratuwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 296% 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 Moratuwa, where all-in costs run around $72.9, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Moratuwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moratuwa – 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 Moratuwa. 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.