Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NingiCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ningi
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,205 in Ningi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $3,172 in Ningi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $4,139 in Ningi.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 43% less than in Ningi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Ningi is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$16.25A$22.64
-71.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$50.9A$71.0
-10.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$6.89A$9.61
22.35%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.80A$3.90
4.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$2.09A$2.91
-66.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.97A$2.75
-81.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$6.35A$8.84
-62.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$7.93A$11.06
-53.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.44A$2.01
54.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.33A$3.25
-21.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.23A$3.11
-2.69%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$3.21A$4.47
-31.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$7.15A$9.96
176.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$7.78A$10.84
-53.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$12.43A$17.32
8.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.59A$3.60
26.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.30A$3.21
-30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.64A$3.68
-8.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$3.74A$5.22
-44.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.36A$3.29
-35.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$2.41A$3.37
-38.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.91A$2.66
-48.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$1.67A$2.32
-69.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$26.29A$36.64
-83.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$14.32A$19.95
35.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$6.16A$8.58
-71.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$6.71A$9.36
-59.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$2.62A$3.65
-47.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$64.0A$89.2
-82.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.98A$2.76
52.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$1.15A$1.61
-13.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$34.18A$47.63
-58.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.16A$1.61
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$22.9KA$31.9K
23.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$19.6KA$27.2K
68.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$220A$306
-44.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$31.62A$44.07
-57.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$48.30A$67.3
-62.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$48.67A$67.8
23.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$15.80A$22.01
8.48%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$13.08A$18.23
-33.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$2,158A$3,007
-67.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$7,238A$10.1K
116.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$50.8A$70.8
17.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$47.79A$66.6
-27.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$89.1A$124
28.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$126A$175
-33.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$1,282A$1,787
-52.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$1,058A$1,475
-58.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$2,040A$2,842
2.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$1,698A$2,366
-11.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$6,085A$8,479
-38.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$4,851A$6,760
-46.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ningi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.54
-18.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ningi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,282 in Ningi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $51.0 in Ningi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $325 per month, with Phuket 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 Ningi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Ningi?
Phuket and Ningi differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $2,205 including rent). Phuket 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 Ningi?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $3,307 in Ningi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Ningi?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,282 in Ningi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $51.0 in Ningi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Ningi?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $2,205 in Ningi – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,205 in Ningi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ningi. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ningi?
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 Ningi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ningi 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 Ningi?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Ningi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.