Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $39.47 in Tanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $58.0 in Tanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $77.2 in Tanga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 3000% more expensive than Tanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Tanga 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$1.53 TZS 3,998

194.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$3.46 TZS 9,028

145.38%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$0.56 TZS 1,462

450.00%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.32 TZS 842

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.40 TZS 1,053

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$0.98 TZS 2,561

147.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$1.15 TZS 2,991

215.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,964

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

$13.93 ฿453

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

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

$691 ฿22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Tanga: June 16, 2026

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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tanga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3000% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $59.2 in Tanga 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.

At $39.47 in Tanga versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tanga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tanga 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 Tanga 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 Tanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3000% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.