Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Peshawar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Peshawar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $372 in Peshawar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $554 in Peshawar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $736 in Peshawar.

Living in Phuket is roughly 236% more expensive than in Peshawar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Peshawar 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$2.34 PKR 651
94.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$10.75 PKR 2,985
329.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$3.60 PKR 1,000
145.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.43 PKR 398
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 PKR 725
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.82 PKR 506
68.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.28 PKR 76.8
160.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.18 PKR 49.00
122.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$0.81 PKR 225
179.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.57 PKR 158
217.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.12 PKR 312
100.89%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$1.19 PKR 330
89.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$3.38 PKR 939
477.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$3.14 PKR 872
16.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$3.78 PKR 1,051
245.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.04 PKR 288
210.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$0.61 PKR 169
165.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$0.92 PKR 255
158.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$0.43 PKR 119
372.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.40 PKR 110
282.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.45 PKR 125
233.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.24 PKR 66.7
308.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.32 PKR 88.8
62.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.68 PKR 190
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63 PKR 452
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60 PKR 999
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$1.88 PKR 522
136.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.20 PKR 55.1
605.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$6.91 PKR 1,918
69.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.69 PKR 190
350.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.73 PKR 204
42.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$1.81 PKR 504
679.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.00 PKR 278
31.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$11.9K PKR 3.3M
132.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$22.6K PKR 6.3M
47.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$98.5 PKR 27.3K
24.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$4.32 PKR 1,201
214.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$10.62 PKR 2,949
76.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$9.96 PKR 2,766
507.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$6.66 PKR 1,850
154.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$4.19 PKR 1,164
116.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$29.39 PKR 8,162
2303.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$518 PKR 143.7K
2953.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$13.06 PKR 3,628
348.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$19.62 PKR 5,447
80.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$38.69 PKR 10.7K
198.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$32.49 PKR 9,022
157.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$120 PKR 33.2K
423.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$51.6 PKR 14.3K
762.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$202 PKR 56.1K
910.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$95.0 PKR 26.4K
1470.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Peshawar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$128 PKR 35.5K
291.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
21.17
-74.82%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Peshawar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $120 in Peshawar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 291% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $11.00 in Peshawar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $82.0 per month, with Peshawar 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 Peshawar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Peshawar?
Peshawar wins on cost – living expenses run 236% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Peshawar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Peshawar?
Average pay runs 291% 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 Peshawar?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $120 in Peshawar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Peshawar?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $372 in Peshawar – a 236% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Peshawar?
A monthly transit pass in Peshawar runs roughly 69% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Peshawar?
At $372 in Peshawar versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Peshawar but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Peshawar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Peshawar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Peshawar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $372 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Peshawar hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Peshawar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Peshawar 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 Peshawar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% 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