😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $617 in Redcliff.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $995 in Redcliff.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,372 in Redcliff.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 104% more expensive than in Redcliff, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Redcliff55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$9.96ZWL 266
-55.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$44.30ZWL 1,181
-20.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$6.17ZWL 165
45.22%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$3.08ZWL 82.2
-2.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$0.90ZWL 24.09
-14.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.53ZWL 14.24
-11.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$1.46ZWL 38.97
64.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$1.97ZWL 52.5
90.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.55ZWL 41.31
17.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.98ZWL 26.15
44.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$1.74ZWL 46.30
-10.92%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.96ZWL 52.4
8.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$11.93ZWL 318
65.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$5.66ZWL 151
-38.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$6.78ZWL 181
63.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$3.03ZWL 80.8
-3.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$1.67ZWL 44.46
-0.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$2.01ZWL 53.5
12.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$1.54ZWL 40.92
36.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$1.73ZWL 46.25
-15.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$1.74ZWL 46.38
-18.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$1.14ZWL 30.38
-4.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$1.05ZWL 27.90
-48.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$1.98ZWL 52.8
126.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$9.53ZWL 254
96.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.40ZWL 37.23
31.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$1.89ZWL 50.5
56.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$4.39ZWL 117
-30.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$1.96ZWL 52.4
-44.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$5.12ZWL 137
-25.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$1.79ZWL 47.78
-16.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$21.8KZWL 581.9K
25.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$27.2KZWL 723.9K
1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$54.4ZWL 1,449
87.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$21.27ZWL 567
-46.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$67.9ZWL 1,810
-73.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$10.09ZWL 269
-22.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$460ZWL 12.3K
25.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$9,158ZWL 244.2K
27.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$23.60ZWL 629
176.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$22.00ZWL 587
31.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$38.45ZWL 1,025
157.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$40.07ZWL 1,068
125.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
13.69
-59.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Redcliff: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Redcliff. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $221, with Redcliff cheaper for home cooking.
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 Redcliff: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redcliff cheaper than Phuket?
Redcliff is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $925 in Redcliff 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $460 in Redcliff. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Redcliff?
Dining out is cheaper in Redcliff – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Redcliff?
At $617 in Redcliff versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Redcliff but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Redcliff the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Redcliff more family-friendly?
For families, Redcliff is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Redcliff?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Redcliff 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 Redcliff gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.