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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $248 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $429 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $609 in Moshi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 409% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$3.05 TZS 7,948

49.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.56 TZS 1,454

289.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.75 TZS 1,962

153.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.32 TZS 3,436

66.67%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

129.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.81 TZS 9,943

-3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$3.07 TZS 8,002

331.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.40 TZS 1,055

325.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.58 TZS 4,133

51.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.75 TZS 1,967

177.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.78 TZS 2,042

103.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.40 TZS 1,045

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.40 TZS 1,056

240.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.25 TZS 3,268

7.20%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

$118 TZS 307.8K

4.76%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

244.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

207.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

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

$196 TZS 511.7K

670.45%

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

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

430.89%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Moshi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 431% 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 409%, 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $372 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $248 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 217% 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 $248, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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.