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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $722 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,700 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,678 in Ndola, rent included.

Phuket costs about 75% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ndola 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$7.10 ZMW 127

-33.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$24.46 ZMW 437

85.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

130.33%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

51.03%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

81.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

117.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

156.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

102.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

79.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

131.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

38.22%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

75.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$7.55 ZMW 135

161.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

-8.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

188.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

166.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

-2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

-13.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

77.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

7.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

76.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.85 ZMW 194

78.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

56.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

73.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

149.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

65.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$9.44 ZMW 168

49.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

14.29%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$8,120 ZMW 144.9K

247.30%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$28.0K ZMW 500.4K

17.37%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$91.8 ZMW 1,638

32.59%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$36.35 ZMW 649

-62.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$124 ZMW 2,206

-85.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$4.06 ZMW 72.5

114.04%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$173 ZMW 3,095

299.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$9,711 ZMW 173.3K

61.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$19.00 ZMW 339

213.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$17.14 ZMW 306

102.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

35.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

13.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$126 ZMW 2,253

385.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$109 ZMW 1,953

299.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$266 ZMW 4,753

686.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$1,481 ZMW 26.4K

1.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$610 ZMW 10.9K

-16.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-78.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ndola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $126 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 20% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $24.00 in Ndola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $170 – 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 75%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,083 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 $45.00 in Phuket and $24.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 73% 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 $722, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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.