🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,772 in Port Hardy.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,861 in Port Hardy.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $3,949 in Port Hardy.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Port Hardy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Port Hardy is 30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$17.76CA$24.85
-75.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$65.1CA$91.1
-50.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$10.81CA$15.12
-17.39%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.45CA$4.83
-15.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$2.07CA$2.90
-57.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$1.74CA$2.44
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$4.73CA$6.61
-50.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$5.63CA$7.88
-33.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.92CA$2.69
-2.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$2.64CA$3.69
-44.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$3.26CA$4.56
-52.45%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$3.57CA$4.99
-41.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$9.92CA$13.88
97.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$11.48CA$16.05
-70.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$14.49CA$20.27
-21.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$3.94CA$5.51
-24.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.30CA$1.82
29.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$3.62CA$5.06
-38.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$3.84CA$5.38
-43.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$2.59CA$3.63
-41.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$2.21CA$3.09
-39.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$2.53CA$3.54
-55.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$1.60CA$2.23
-65.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$12.33CA$17.24
-65.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$12.02CA$16.81
58.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$2.67CA$3.74
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$3.21CA$4.49
-13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$2.30CA$3.21
-3.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$66.8CA$93.4
-65.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$3.23CA$4.52
-6.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.67CA$2.33
-38.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$26.13CA$36.55
-85.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.13CA$1.58
31.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$27.3KCA$38.1K
-2.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$20.2KCA$28.3K
33.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$86.5CA$121
18.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$56.6CA$79.2
-79.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$72.4CA$101
-75.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$42.11CA$58.9
23.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$19.03CA$26.63
-41.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$12.58CA$17.60
-38.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$880CA$1,231
-36.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$13.0KCA$18.2K
-11.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$49.57CA$69.3
27.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$33.75CA$47.21
-12.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$98.0CA$137
0.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$116CA$162
-23.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$653CA$914
12.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$660CA$923
-26.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,394CA$1,950
51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$1,426CA$1,995
-14.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$4,352CA$6,088
-16.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$4,054CA$5,671
-35.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Port Hardy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$3,325CA$4,651
-85.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.66
19.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Port Hardy: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $653 in Port Hardy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Hardy pays 574% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $65.0 in Port Hardy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $350 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 Port Hardy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Hardy cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Port Hardy?
On paper, salaries run 574% lower in Port Hardy. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Port Hardy?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $653 in Port Hardy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $880 in Port Hardy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Port Hardy?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Port Hardy. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Port Hardy?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,772 in Port Hardy, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Port Hardy. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Port Hardy more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Port Hardy, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Port Hardy?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Port Hardy 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Port Hardy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.