Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Shurugwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Shurugwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $621 in Shurugwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $998 in Shurugwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,376 in Shurugwi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 104% more expensive than in Shurugwi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Shurugwi 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$9.93 ZWL 265

-54.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$40.41 ZWL 1,078

12.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$7.03 ZWL 188

24.61%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.71 ZWL 45.51

73.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.66 ZWL 17.70

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.44 ZWL 11.62

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.46 ZWL 38.96

73.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.02 ZWL 53.9

85.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.60 ZWL 42.78

34.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$1.02 ZWL 27.26

78.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.87 ZWL 49.78

16.58%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.06 ZWL 55.0

9.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$10.99 ZWL 293

81.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$6.57 ZWL 175

-44.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$6.22 ZWL 166

118.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.86 ZWL 76.4

13.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.63 ZWL 43.48

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.27 ZWL 60.6

2.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.73 ZWL 46.16

19.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.50 ZWL 39.92

3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.99 ZWL 53.2

-26.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.03 ZWL 27.52

-4.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$1.01 ZWL 26.86

-52.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.07 ZWL 28.48

306.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$9.53 ZWL 254

94.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.16 ZWL 31.05

60.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.71 ZWL 45.55

54.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$5.02 ZWL 134

-36.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.98 ZWL 52.7

-47.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$4.94 ZWL 132

181.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.55 ZWL 41.35

-13.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$20.2K ZWL 538.1K

37.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$23.7K ZWL 632.9K

40.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,105

$59.3 ZWL 1,581

107.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿459

$17.48 ZWL 466

-21.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$90.9 ZWL 2,426

-79.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$10.16 ZWL 271

-12.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 ฿22.9K

$278 ZWL 7,425

147.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$7,397 ZWL 197.4K

113.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.76 ZWL 527

200.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$21.45 ZWL 572

61.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$35.15 ZWL 938

227.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$40.00 ZWL 1,067

109.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Shurugwi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Shurugwi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $221 per month, with Shurugwi 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 Shurugwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shurugwi 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.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $932 in Shurugwi 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.

Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $278 in Shurugwi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Shurugwi – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $621 in Shurugwi versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shurugwi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Shurugwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Shurugwi 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Shurugwi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Shurugwi 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.