Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ndola Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ndola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $751 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,768 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $2,784 in Ndola, rent included.

Phuket costs about 67% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Ndola 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$5.75 ZMW 110

-20.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,072

$31.73 ZMW 608

2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

73.49%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

-3.11%

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

$0.88 ฿28.93

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

96.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

85.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

57.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.7

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

2.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.38

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

21.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

-26.17%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

29.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$10.73 ZMW 205

85.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$6.47 ZMW 124

-46.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$6.81 ZMW 130

66.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

85.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

-31.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

-38.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

26.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

-43.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

-30.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.12

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

-5.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

36.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿605

$10.45 ZMW 200

76.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

23.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

20.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

$0.75 ZMW 14.41

196.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$2.60 ZMW 49.81

16.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

$1.56 ZMW 29.85

-31.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

-24.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.04

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

1.36%

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

$27.1K ฿891.7K

$7,874 ZMW 150.8K

244.55%

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

$27.5K ฿902.3K

$27.2K ZMW 520.4K

1.02%

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

$103 ฿3,379

$84.6 ZMW 1,620

21.53%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$10.89 ZMW 209

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

-69.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$6.17 ZMW 118

21.23%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$143 ZMW 2,732

290.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

$16.7K ZMW 320.4K

-29.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,106

$24.07 ZMW 461

166.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$16.45 ZMW 315

76.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,154

$47.47 ZMW 909

102.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

19.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$181 ZMW 3,474

302.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$157 ZMW 3,009

218.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$388 ZMW 7,439

438.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.7K

$1,519 ZMW 29.1K

-20.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.5K

$591 ZMW 11.3K

-14.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ndola: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $181 in Ndola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Ndola, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $32.00 in Ndola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $233 – making Ndola the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ndola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,127 in Ndola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ndola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $32.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 Ndola, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Ndola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ndola – 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 Ndola. 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.