๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $779 in Rondonรณpolis.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,251 in Rondonรณpolis.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,723 in Rondonรณpolis.
๐Living in Phuket is roughly 63% more expensive than Rondonรณpolis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Rondonรณpolis42% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70เธฟ154
$5.27R$27.12
-10.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37เธฟ1,489
$26.91R$139
68.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43เธฟ277
$6.40R$32.96
31.72%
Cappuccino
$2.93เธฟ96.1
$1.71R$8.80
71.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.50
$1.12R$5.76
-38.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ12.04
$0.67R$3.44
-44.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41เธฟ79.0
$1.81R$9.34
33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72เธฟ122
$2.62R$13.50
41.98%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23เธฟ73.3
$0.93R$4.80
139.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83เธฟ60.1
$1.45R$7.48
26.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17เธฟ71.1
$1.14R$5.85
90.35%
Eggs
$2.21เธฟ72.6
$2.02R$10.42
9.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74เธฟ648
$8.17R$42.08
141.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63เธฟ119
$3.75R$19.31
-3.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53เธฟ444
$7.32R$37.72
84.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28เธฟ108
$2.06R$10.59
59.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ52.9
$1.31R$6.75
22.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41เธฟ79.0
$1.16R$5.95
107.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ68.4
$1.50R$7.75
38.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53เธฟ50.2
$1.16R$5.96
31.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.58
$1.10R$5.64
34.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99เธฟ32.44
$0.74R$3.81
33.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.74
$0.66R$3.39
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41เธฟ145
$2.15R$11.08
105.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38เธฟ636
$8.15R$42.00
137.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78เธฟ58.4
$1.21R$6.23
47.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71เธฟ89.0
$1.98R$10.22
36.87%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37เธฟ44.99
$0.92R$4.76
48.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39เธฟ374
$39.27R$202
-71.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02เธฟ99.1
$1.06R$5.45
184.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99เธฟ32.63
$0.76R$3.91
30.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10เธฟ463
$6.26R$32.27
125.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36เธฟ44.71
$1.04R$5.37
30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2Kเธฟ925.3K
$20.4KR$104.9K
38.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$27.3KR$140.6K
20.57%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122เธฟ3,993
$60.8R$313
100.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57เธฟ445
$13.50R$69.6
0.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31เธฟ601
$18.52R$95.4
-1.13%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2เธฟ1,976
$22.15R$114
171.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14เธฟ562
$21.44R$110
-20.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69เธฟ285
$6.14R$31.62
41.53%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693เธฟ22.8K
$275R$1,417
152.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7Kเธฟ514.7K
$6,437R$33.2K
143.70%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,953
$48.81R$251
21.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77เธฟ1,141
$42.46R$219
-18.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,760
$75.7R$390
51.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3เธฟ2,733
$65.1R$335
27.98%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613เธฟ20.1K
$312R$1,608
96.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.3K
$215R$1,108
103.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094เธฟ68.7K
$575R$2,964
263.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ49.5K
$423R$2,181
256.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749เธฟ123.0K
$1,433R$7,379
161.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616เธฟ85.8K
$1,079R$5,560
142.36%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rondonรณpolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508เธฟ16.7K
$632R$3,256
-19.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Rondonรณpolis: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $312 in Rondonรณpolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRondonรณpolis pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Rondonรณpolis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $175 per month, with Rondonรณpolis 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 Rondonรณpolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rondonรณpolis cheaper than Phuket?
Rondonรณpolis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Rondonรณpolis?
On paper, Rondonรณpolis earns 24% less. 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 Rondonรณpolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $312 in Rondonรณpolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $275 in Rondonรณpolis. 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 Rondonรณpolis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Rondonรณpolis?
At $779 in Rondonรณpolis versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rondonรณpolis but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rondonรณpolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Rondonรณpolis more family-friendly?
For families, Rondonรณpolis 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 Rondonรณpolis?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Rondonรณpolis 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 Rondonรณpolis gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 63% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.