Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Naha

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,357 in Naha, rent and utilities included – about $950 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Naha outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Naha, Japan
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Naha
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,357
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Naha

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 Naha actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,357 in Naha, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Naha $1,357

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,090 in Naha, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Naha $2,090

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,822 in Naha, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Naha $2,822

Phuket is about 6% cheaper than Naha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$4.94 ¥779
-9.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$30.03 ¥4,741
7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$5.10 ¥805
72.75%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$3.03 ¥479
-6.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.32 ¥209
-34.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.90 ¥142
-45.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$2.65 ¥418
-3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$4.01 ¥634
-8.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.62 ¥256
2.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$2.14 ¥338
-31.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$3.76 ¥594
-60.11%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$1.86 ¥294
12.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$17.66 ¥2,788
7.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$4.74 ¥748
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$22.27 ¥3,516
-51.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$3.65 ¥577
-19.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.60 ¥410
-35.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.24 ¥353
0.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$5.01 ¥791
-58.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.36 ¥373
-36.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$2.56 ¥404
-46.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.33 ¥210
-19.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.75 ¥118
-30.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.02 ¥635
4.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$6.41 ¥1,013
193.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.90 ¥300
-4.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$3.34 ¥528
-14.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Naha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.81 ¥601
-20.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$3.54 ¥559
-71.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$11.37 ¥1,795
-67.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.04 ¥164
41.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$20.8K ¥3.3M
28.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$15.1K ¥2.4M
76.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$95.6 ¥15.1K
0.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$24.73 ¥3,905
-54.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$52.7 ¥8,327
-68.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$12.18 ¥1,923
-38.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$329 ¥51.9K
44.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$5,677 ¥896.3K
98.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$49.58 ¥7,829
25.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$23.56 ¥3,719
20.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$81.8 ¥12.9K
15.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$97.9 ¥15.5K
-12.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Naha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$744 ¥117.4K
-3.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$576 ¥90.9K
-14.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,125 ¥177.7K
71.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,121 ¥177.1K
27.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Naha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$1,340 ¥211.6K
-62.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.23
149.78%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Naha: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Naha
$576 17.3% $85
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Naha
$327 22.8% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Naha
$173 39% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Naha
$114 6.7% $8.1
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Naha
$121 0.3% $0.4
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Naha
$24 * 70.4% $58
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Naha
$22 * 69.5% $49

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $744 in Naha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Naha are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $30 in Naha. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $327 in Naha – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇯🇵 Naha
🕒 Local time
04:19 4:19 AM
06:19 6:19 AM
2 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
317,625
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Naha 3,700 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Naha

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 Naha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Naha?
Naha costs about 6% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Naha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,035 in Naha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Naha?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $716 in Phuket and $744 in Naha. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Naha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,357 in Naha. That makes Phuket about 6% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Naha?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $329 in Naha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Naha?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,357 in Naha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Naha?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Phuket to $1,357 in Naha. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Phuket compared to Naha?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Phuket or to Naha?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Naha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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