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 $243 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $425 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $606 in Moshi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 406% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$3.08 TZS 7,970

50.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.57 TZS 1,465

296.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$0.73 TZS 1,897

152.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.36 TZS 3,522

64.71%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$8.74 TZS 22.6K

125.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$3.77 TZS 9,767

-3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$3.16 TZS 8,174

314.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$0.40 TZS 1,046

310.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.54 TZS 3,980

56.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$0.74 TZS 1,920

174.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$0.80 TZS 2,079

95.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.40 TZS 1,043

22.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.40 TZS 1,045

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.23 TZS 3,178

9.76%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

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)

$125 ฿4,087

$116 TZS 299.7K

7.96%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$3.85 TZS 9,978

252.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$19.54 TZS 50.6K

195.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$190 TZS 491.0K

686.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$97.9 TZS 253.5K

434.83%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Moshi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 435% 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 406%, 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 $365 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 $243 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 216% 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 $243, 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.