😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $703 in Nandaime.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,141 in Nandaime.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,580 in Nandaime.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 80% more expensive than in Nandaime, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Nandaime47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$5.03NIO 184
-10.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$34.88NIO 1,277
30.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$7.15NIO 262
22.52%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$2.44NIO 89.4
21.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.86NIO 31.42
-19.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.69NIO 25.33
-43.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.34NIO 49.19
88.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.04NIO 74.8
83.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.26NIO 46.18
70.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$2.36NIO 86.4
-22.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.89NIO 69.3
15.34%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.27NIO 83.3
-0.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$11.33NIO 415
76.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.46NIO 237
-43.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$7.98NIO 292
69.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.81NIO 139
-14.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.85NIO 31.00
92.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.83NIO 67.1
27.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.24NIO 82.1
-7.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$4.04NIO 148
-61.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$2.17NIO 79.6
-32.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.01NIO 36.95
-2.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$1.02NIO 37.34
-52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.62NIO 95.8
66.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$14.51NIO 532
27.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.42NIO 51.9
30.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$2.25NIO 82.5
17.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.54NIO 56.3
105.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$6.66NIO 244
108.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.30NIO 47.43
3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$22.8KNIO 836.8K
21.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$26.1KNIO 955.4K
27.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$98.1NIO 3,591
25.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$16.72NIO 612
-17.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$37.41NIO 1,370
-51.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$8.13NIO 298
9.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$123NIO 4,492
460.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$5,935NIO 217.4K
165.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$78.8NIO 2,887
-24.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$73.1NIO 2,677
-52.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$134NIO 4,896
-13.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$108NIO 3,966
-22.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.25
-48.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nandaime: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Nandaime for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $259 per month, with Nandaime cheaper across the board.
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 Nandaime: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Nandaime?
Phuket and Nandaime differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $703 including rent). Nandaime is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Nandaime?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $1,054 in Nandaime to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Nandaime?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $703 in Nandaime – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $703 in Nandaime versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nandaime but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nandaime the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Nandaime?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Nandaime safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Nandaime are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Nandaime?
Expats usually find Nandaime gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.