Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nyamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nyamata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $489 in Nyamata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $795 in Nyamata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,101 in Nyamata.

Living in Phuket is roughly 150% more expensive than in Nyamata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Nyamata 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿148
$3.38 RWF 4,938
33.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,528
$10.25 RWF 15.0K
354.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿278
$6.52 RWF 9,516
30.21%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿101
$1.70 RWF 2,481
81.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.26
$0.67 RWF 983
1.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.84
$0.43 RWF 628
-16.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿79.5
$1.07 RWF 1,560
127.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$1.42 RWF 2,079
155.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.7
$0.68 RWF 986
222.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.5
$0.85 RWF 1,235
112.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿73.1
$1.30 RWF 1,892
71.54%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.3
$1.72 RWF 2,507
30.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿642
$3.70 RWF 5,398
429.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.84 RWF 4,140
30.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿441
$3.65 RWF 5,335
269.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿110
$2.48 RWF 3,627
35.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$0.41 RWF 593
295.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$0.66 RWF 962
265.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿65.2
$0.58 RWF 843
243.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.2
$0.48 RWF 697
218.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.59
$0.75 RWF 1,097
93.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿33.23
$0.34 RWF 491
197.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.86
$0.71 RWF 1,044
-32.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$1.43 RWF 2,082
198.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿627
$10.24 RWF 14.9K
86.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.2
$0.97 RWF 1,420
89.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.8
$1.72 RWF 2,516
59.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿384
$31.20 RWF 45.6K
-62.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿98.4
$2.57 RWF 3,750
16.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.28
$1.39 RWF 2,036
-24.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿456
$3.19 RWF 4,662
335.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿42.28
$1.18 RWF 1,724
9.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿918.7K
$26.5K RWF 38.8M
5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$24.3K RWF 35.5M
37.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,997
$46.11 RWF 67.3K
164.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿457
$8.68 RWF 12.7K
60.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿618
$17.16 RWF 25.0K
9.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿2,008
$47.42 RWF 69.2K
29.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿552
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿291
$2.02 RWF 2,950
340.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.7K
$153 RWF 223.8K
351.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿529.5K
$5,057 RWF 7.4M
219.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,894
$16.96 RWF 24.8K
240.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,160
$19.19 RWF 28.0K
84.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,716
$24.12 RWF 35.2K
370.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,720
$31.42 RWF 45.9K
164.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.9K
$104 RWF 152.2K
481.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.7K
$69.6 RWF 101.7K
543.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.5K
$353 RWF 515.8K
474.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.9K
$246 RWF 359.6K
506.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿117.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nyamata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.5K
$186 RWF 271.3K
171.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
16.2
-67.10%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $104 in Nyamata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 172% 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 $10.00 in Nyamata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $126 per month, with Nyamata 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 Nyamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Nyamata?
Nyamata wins on cost – living expenses run 150% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nyamata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Nyamata?
Average pay runs 172% higher in Phuket, 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 compared to Nyamata?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $104 in Nyamata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Nyamata?
A monthly transit pass in Nyamata runs roughly 166% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Nyamata?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $153 in Nyamata. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Nyamata?
At $489 in Nyamata versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nyamata but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nyamata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Nyamata?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nyamata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $489 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nyamata hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Nyamata?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Nyamata 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 Nyamata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities