😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $332 in Noakhali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $552 in Noakhali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $772 in Noakhali.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 271% more expensive than Noakhali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Noakhali75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$2.39৳294
93.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$12.57৳1,543
272.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.94৳606
78.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.13৳506
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.97৳610
-
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$2.22৳272
35.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.34৳42.11
117.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.20৳23.95
85.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$0.72৳88.9
213.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.70৳86.1
162.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$0.59৳72.4
279.66%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$1.24৳153
87.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$6.77৳832
190.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$1.42৳174
157.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$6.70৳823
95.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$2.00৳246
69.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$0.86৳106
90.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$2.52৳309
-4.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$0.32৳38.97
534.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.36৳43.80
333.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$0.51৳62.9
194.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$0.33৳40.49
209.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.24৳29.45
104.17%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.74৳1,073
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.90৳479
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.11৳873
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$2.97৳364
49.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.22৳27.05
536.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$10.41৳1,278
10.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.20৳147
160.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.40৳48.91
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$2.49৳306
465.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$0.93৳114
45.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$28.8K৳3.5M
-5.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$27.7K৳3.4M
18.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$16.25৳1,995
669.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$3.99৳490
240.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$13.24৳1,626
39.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$13.50৳1,658
355.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$11.66৳1,431
44.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$4.13৳508
122.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$47.50৳5,831
1369.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$1,999৳245.4K
679.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$18.44৳2,264
213.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$24.30৳2,984
45.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$47.05৳5,775
140.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$36.50৳4,480
136.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$68.4৳8,392
800.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$41.65৳5,113
970.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$162৳19.9K
1160.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$98.6৳12.1K
1412.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$623৳76.4K
506.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$448৳55.0K
490.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Noakhali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$402৳49.3K
30.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.52
-49.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Noakhali: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $68.4 in Noakhali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 30% 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 $13.00 in Noakhali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $102 per month, with Noakhali 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 Noakhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Noakhali?
Noakhali wins on cost – living expenses run 271% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Noakhali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Noakhali?
Phuket pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Noakhali?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $68.4 in Noakhali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Noakhali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 186% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Noakhali?
Dining out is cheaper in Noakhali – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Noakhali?
At $332 in Noakhali versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Noakhali but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Noakhali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Noakhali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Noakhali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $332 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Noakhali hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Noakhali?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Noakhali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Noakhali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 271% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.