Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Moshi

For one person, living is cheaper in Moshi: $247 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Moshi, Tanzania
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Moshi
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$247
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Moshi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Moshi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $247 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Moshi $247

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $427 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Moshi $427

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $607 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Moshi $607

Phuket costs about 425% more than Moshi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$2.96 TZS 7,795
48.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,078
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿290
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿90.9
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.06
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.67
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$0.56 TZS 1,473
210.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$0.78 TZS 2,049
85.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.1
$1.28 TZS 3,385
17.19%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.5
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿637
$8.45 TZS 22.3K
125.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿113
$3.89 TZS 10.2K
-12.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿364
$3.09 TZS 8,136
252.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.2
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.5
$0.40 TZS 1,042
322.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.2
$1.47 TZS 3,877
48.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿70.9
$0.80 TZS 2,101
165.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.68
$0.74 TZS 1,949
97.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.66
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿35.91
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.21
$0.40 TZS 1,043
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿148
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿609
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$0.80 TZS 2,102
81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,832
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.5
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿25.90
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.65
$1.19 TZS 3,130
25.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿897.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,265
$116 TZS 304.5K
-15.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿377
$3.88 TZS 10.2K
190.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿574
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,281
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿365
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿248
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿626.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,059
$18.84 TZS 49.6K
227.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿943
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,204
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,898
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.6K
$189 TZS 498.2K
638.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿139.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Moshi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.4K
$94.0 TZS 247.6K
423.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Moshi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Moshi
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Moshi
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Moshi
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Moshi
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Moshi
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Moshi
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Moshi
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Phuket are about 5.2 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇹🇿 Moshi
🕒 Local time
05:34 5:34 AM
01:34 1:34 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
221,733
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TZS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 2,635 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD). 1 EUR = 2,958 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Moshi 6,890 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Moshi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Moshi cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 425%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $370 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Moshi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $247 in Moshi. That makes Moshi about 81% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Moshi?
Groceries cost about 191% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Moshi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Moshi, where all-in costs run around $247, than in Phuket at $1,294. In Moshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Moshi?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $247 in Moshi to $1,294 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Moshi?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Moshi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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