Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tete Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $170 in Tete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $272 in Tete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $374 in Tete.

Living in Phuket is roughly 643% more expensive than Tete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Tete 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$4.55 MZN 288

3.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.57 MZN 99.6

86.62%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.74 MZN 47.11

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.38 MZN 23.84

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.77 MZN 48.49

212.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.28 MZN 81.0

190.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.53 MZN 96.7

45.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.69 MZN 43.45

165.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.31 MZN 146

-6.06%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.08 MZN 195

-28.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.04 MZN 193

19.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.59 MZN 101

106.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.58 MZN 100

31.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.59 MZN 101

-3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.59 MZN 101

-6.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.80 MZN 50.5

-36.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.06 MZN 67.1

67.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.57 MZN 99.5

72.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

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 2, 2026

Last update for Tete: May 31, 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 Tete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tete is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 643% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $256 in Tete 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 191% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $170 in Tete – a 643% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $170 in Tete versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tete but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tete 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 Tete 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 Tete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 643% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.