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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $742 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,740 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,738 in Ndola, rent included.

Phuket costs about 69% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ndola 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$7.08 ZMW 129

-35.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$25.36 ZMW 462

82.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$3.68 ZMW 67.0

140.22%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.96 ZMW 35.69

56.12%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.35 ZMW 6.34

108.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.18 ZMW 3.25

122.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$0.88 ZMW 15.98

176.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.74 ZMW 31.67

117.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.30 ZMW 23.62

73.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.79 ZMW 14.39

129.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.65 ZMW 29.99

36.36%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.32 ZMW 24.09

70.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$7.82 ZMW 142

149.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.95 ZMW 71.9

-7.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$4.67 ZMW 85.0

179.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.23 ZMW 22.38

162.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.60 ZMW 29.19

1.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.67 ZMW 48.58

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.17 ZMW 21.31

73.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.82 ZMW 33.14

-15.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.32 ZMW 24.10

13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.86 ZMW 15.57

13.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.52 ZMW 9.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$2.55 ZMW 46.49

74.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.79 ZMW 196

69.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.09 ZMW 19.93

70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.58 ZMW 28.83

69.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.56 ZMW 10.19

151.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.85 ZMW 33.69

68.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$9.45 ZMW 172

49.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.23 ZMW 22.37

6.50%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$7,861 ZMW 143.1K

253.85%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$28.0K ZMW 510.0K

18.55%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$91.3 ZMW 1,662

34.09%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$36.46 ZMW 664

-62.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$123 ZMW 2,241

-84.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$4.25 ZMW 77.3

113.41%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$178 ZMW 3,240

296.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$9,526 ZMW 173.4K

65.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$18.59 ZMW 338

214.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$17.17 ZMW 312

105.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$84.8 ZMW 1,543

36.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$73.2 ZMW 1,333

14.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$126 ZMW 2,295

396.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$109 ZMW 1,979

309.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$276 ZMW 5,020

639.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$1,485 ZMW 27.0K

0.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$608 ZMW 11.1K

-17.81%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ndola: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 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 22% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Ndola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 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 69%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,113 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 $46.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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 $742, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.