Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moshi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moshi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $240 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $416 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $591 in Moshi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 413% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$2.97 TZS 7,796

48.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$0.59 TZS 1,559

216.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.72 TZS 1,901

104.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.30 TZS 3,413

19.23%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$8.26 TZS 21.7K

137.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.76 TZS 9,894

-9.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$3.11 TZS 8,177

265.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.37 TZS 961

354.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.48 TZS 3,894

49.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$0.79 TZS 2,072

173.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.73 TZS 1,920

108.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.36 TZS 952

52.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.78 TZS 2,044

185.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.24 TZS 3,250

20.16%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$115 TZS 303.4K

-11.22%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

193.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$18.65 TZS 49.0K

237.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$187 TZS 492.7K

554.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$95.8 TZS 252.0K

415.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Moshi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 415% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Moshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 413%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $360 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $240 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 204% 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 Moshi, where all-in costs run around $240, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Moshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – 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 Moshi. 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.