😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $628 in Redcliff.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,023 in Redcliff.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,418 in Redcliff.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 96% more expensive than Redcliff, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Redcliff53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$9.93ZWL 251
-53.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$51.0ZWL 1,290
-8.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$6.91ZWL 175
27.93%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$3.00ZWL 75.9
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.67ZWL 16.94
10.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.47ZWL 11.80
-21.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$1.52ZWL 38.41
60.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$1.95ZWL 49.29
85.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.55ZWL 39.09
45.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$0.99ZWL 25.03
85.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.88ZWL 47.49
19.15%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.06ZWL 52.2
12.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$10.75ZWL 272
82.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$6.47ZWL 164
-43.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$6.53ZWL 165
100.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$3.03ZWL 76.7
11.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.68ZWL 42.61
-2.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$2.18ZWL 55.1
10.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.73ZWL 43.73
17.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.55ZWL 39.15
0.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.99ZWL 50.2
-24.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.03ZWL 26.08
-0.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.94ZWL 23.76
-47.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$1.13ZWL 28.56
293.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$8.47ZWL 214
122.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.18ZWL 29.83
50.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.79ZWL 45.27
53.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$5.05ZWL 128
-38.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$1.95ZWL 49.34
-48.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$5.05ZWL 128
179.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.62ZWL 40.94
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$19.8KZWL 501.8K
37.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$23.7KZWL 599.4K
38.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$58.2ZWL 1,471
114.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$17.38ZWL 440
-21.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$91.1ZWL 2,304
-79.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$9.85ZWL 249
-6.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$273ZWL 6,919
155.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$7,196ZWL 182.1K
116.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$19.14ZWL 484
201.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$21.13ZWL 535
66.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$34.70ZWL 878
225.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$39.77ZWL 1,006
117.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Redcliff
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13.31
-59.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Redcliff: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $51.0 in Redcliff. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $218, 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 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $942 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 $698 in Phuket versus $273 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 Redcliff?
Dining out is cheaper in Redcliff – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Redcliff?
At $628 in Redcliff versus $1,232 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 96% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.