Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NarokCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Narok
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $551 in Narok.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $908 in Narok.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,265 in Narok.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 123% more expensive than Narok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Narok59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$5.52KES 714
-16.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,523
$38.56KES 4,984
21.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿287
$6.86KES 886
28.86%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿97.4
$2.43KES 314
23.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.11
$0.70KES 89.9
5.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.88
$0.54KES 69.5
-31.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.3
$2.36KES 306
3.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿117
$2.97KES 383
21.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.5
$0.89KES 115
153.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿59.8
$0.54KES 69.6
240.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.0
$1.66KES 214
34.94%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.3
$1.63KES 211
42.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿639
$11.53KES 1,490
70.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$6.64KES 858
-45.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿426
$5.46KES 705
139.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿110
$3.16KES 409
7.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.4
$1.04KES 134
57.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.5
$2.16KES 280
11.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.0
$1.06KES 137
91.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.6
$1.02KES 132
52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.66
$1.12KES 145
33.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.30
$0.66KES 84.9
54.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿15.91
$0.79KES 102
-37.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$3.06KES 395
45.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿614
$6.91KES 893
173.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿57.7
$2.18KES 282
-18.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿89.5
$2.82KES 365
-2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Narok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.54
$1.53KES 197
-8.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿373
$45.50KES 5,880
-74.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿101
$1.54KES 199
102.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.48
$1.58KES 204
-36.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿458
$2.93KES 379
380.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿43.93
$1.43KES 185
-5.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿883.7K
$21.7KKES 2.8M
25.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$19.7KKES 2.5M
66.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,063
$34.97KES 4,519
257.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿441
$16.91KES 2,185
-19.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿602
$39.91KES 5,158
-53.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿1,999
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿299
$6.12KES 790
50.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.7K
$204KES 26.4K
242.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿506.9K
$8,125KES 1.0M
91.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$18.50KES 2,391
212.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,146
$23.85KES 3,082
47.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,677
$64.1KES 8,285
76.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,808
$56.3KES 7,275
53.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Narok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿66.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿122.8K
$1,529KES 197.6K
147.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.1K
$1,151KES 148.8K
130.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Narok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.0K
$305KES 39.4K
71.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
14.84
-64.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Narok: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Phuket pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Narok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $195 per month, with Narok 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 Narok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Narok?
Phuket and Narok differ by about 123% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $551 including rent). Narok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Narok?
Phuket pays 72% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Narok?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $204 in Narok. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $551 in Narok versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Narok but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Narok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Narok?
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 Narok safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Narok 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 Narok?
Expats usually find Narok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.