Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and SecundaCost 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: Phuket8% lower, Secunda33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$5.63R 94.4
-17.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$28.23R 473
65.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.79R 80.4
84.55%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$2.11R 35.43
42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$0.74R 12.45
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.43R 7.19
-13.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$1.00R 16.76
144.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$1.20R 20.20
200.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.20R 20.07
88.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$1.00R 16.71
84.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.57R 26.32
42.68%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.38R 39.85
-2.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.84R 131
150.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$4.62R 77.4
-21.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$6.48R 109
102.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.69R 28.33
100.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.53R 25.68
7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.64R 27.58
46.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.70R 28.57
19.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.30R 21.86
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.17R 19.55
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.09R 18.20
-6.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$1.17R 19.65
-58.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$2.88R 48.26
54.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$5.15R 86.5
266.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.51R 25.33
17.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.79R 29.94
53.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$1.70R 28.47
-17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.39R 23.26
124.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$1.37R 23.03
-27.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$2.99R 50.2
371.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.26R 21.11
7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$19.4KR 324.7K
40.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$26.3KR 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
$82.9R 1,390
50.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$36.90R 619
-63.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$37.75R 633
-50.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$16.99R 285
261.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$11.33R 190
48.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$6.62R 111
38.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$170R 2,851
310.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$4,276R 71.7K
264.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$51.4R 863
12.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$32.46R 544
8.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$87.6R 1,470
29.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$87.1R 1,460
-0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$330R 5,540
86.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$309R 5,186
44.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$690R 11.6K
196.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$482R 8,082
209.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$753R 12.6K
401.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$698R 11.7K
279.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Secunda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$1,474R 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.