😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $764 in Nandaime.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,241 in Nandaime.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,718 in Nandaime.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 61% more expensive than in Nandaime, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Nandaime44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$9.97NIO 365
-55.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$37.86NIO 1,387
-14.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.75NIO 284
15.23%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$2.60NIO 95.2
11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$0.89NIO 32.58
-1.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.73NIO 26.72
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$1.44NIO 52.9
63.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.98NIO 72.5
87.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.29NIO 47.08
44.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$2.34NIO 85.8
-37.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.78NIO 65.1
-12.92%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.30NIO 84.3
-8.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$11.71NIO 429
67.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.42NIO 235
-46.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$7.31NIO 268
55.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$3.66NIO 134
-18.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$0.62NIO 22.57
170.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.84NIO 67.3
20.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.24NIO 82.2
-3.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$3.95NIO 145
-61.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$2.16NIO 78.9
-37.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.00NIO 36.71
13.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$1.08NIO 39.51
-49.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.64NIO 96.8
61.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$14.55NIO 533
31.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.40NIO 51.2
27.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.25NIO 82.3
23.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.65NIO 60.5
83.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$1.67NIO 61.1
-38.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$6.72NIO 246
-42.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.37NIO 50.2
8.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$23.3KNIO 853.0K
14.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$26.7KNIO 978.6K
1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$120NIO 4,377
-14.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$16.89NIO 618
-32.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$36.14NIO 1,324
-51.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$8.49NIO 311
-9.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$240NIO 8,781
133.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$6,021NIO 220.5K
91.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$71.4NIO 2,614
-11.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$72.2NIO 2,646
-59.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$133NIO 4,870
-26.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$109NIO 4,003
-19.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nandaime
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
10.25
-45.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Nandaime: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Nandaime. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $256, with Nandaime cheaper for home cooking.
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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $764 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 $1,847 in Phuket and $1,146 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 7% 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 $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $764 in Nandaime – a 61% 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 $764 in Nandaime versus $1,232 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 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.