Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Secunda Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Secunda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $900 in Secunda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,345 in Secunda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,790 in Secunda.

Living in Phuket is roughly 37% more expensive than Secunda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Secunda 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$5.63 R 94.4
-17.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$28.23 R 473
65.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$4.79 R 80.4
84.55%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$2.11 R 35.43
42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.74 R 12.45
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.43 R 7.19
-13.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.00 R 16.76
144.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$1.20 R 20.20
200.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.20 R 20.07
88.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.00 R 16.71
84.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.57 R 26.32
42.68%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.38 R 39.85
-2.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$7.84 R 131
150.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$4.62 R 77.4
-21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$6.48 R 109
102.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.69 R 28.33
100.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.53 R 25.68
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.64 R 27.58
46.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.70 R 28.57
19.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.30 R 21.86
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.17 R 19.55
28.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.09 R 18.20
-6.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$1.17 R 19.65
-58.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$2.88 R 48.26
54.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$5.15 R 86.5
266.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.51 R 25.33
17.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$1.79 R 29.94
53.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$1.70 R 28.47
-17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$1.39 R 23.26
124.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.37 R 23.03
-27.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$2.99 R 50.2
371.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.26 R 21.11
7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$19.4K R 324.7K
40.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.3K R 440.8K
25.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$82.9 R 1,390
50.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$36.90 R 619
-63.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$37.75 R 633
-50.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$16.99 R 285
261.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$11.33 R 190
48.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$6.62 R 111
38.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$170 R 2,851
310.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$4,276 R 71.7K
264.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$51.4 R 863
12.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$32.46 R 544
8.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$87.6 R 1,470
29.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$87.1 R 1,460
-0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$330 R 5,540
86.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$309 R 5,186
44.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$690 R 11.6K
196.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$482 R 8,082
209.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$753 R 12.6K
401.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$698 R 11.7K
279.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$1,474 R 24.7K
-64.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.69
-54.41%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Secunda: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $330 in Secunda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Secunda pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Secunda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $183 per month, with Secunda 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 Secunda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Secunda cheaper than Phuket?
Secunda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Secunda?
On paper, Secunda earns 181% 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 Secunda?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $330 in Secunda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $170 in Secunda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Secunda?
Dining out is cheaper in Secunda – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Secunda?
At $900 in Secunda versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Secunda but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Secunda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Secunda more family-friendly?
For families, Secunda 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 Secunda?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Secunda 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 Secunda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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