😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,139 in Toyohashi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,767 in Toyohashi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,394 in Toyohashi.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 10% more expensive than in Toyohashi, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Toyohashi15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$7.13¥1,159
-36.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$41.94¥6,814
10.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.68¥924
55.63%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.17¥515
-3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.15¥186
-36.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.76¥123
-47.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.13¥346
14.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.07¥498
23.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.36¥221
66.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.37¥223
32.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.05¥332
9.76%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.49¥241
51.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.96¥1,618
95.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$5.70¥927
-35.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$15.60¥2,534
-16.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.05¥334
57.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.03¥167
57.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$3.99¥648
-40.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$3.41¥554
-40.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.43¥232
6.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.41¥229
6.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.66¥107
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.53¥85.9
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$4.08¥663
8.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$9.14¥1,485
100.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$0.70¥114
165.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.12¥344
26.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.65¥268
-14.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$56.5¥9,181
-79.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$3.44¥559
-9.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.86¥465
-63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$22.46¥3,649
-37.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.20¥195
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$23.4K¥3.8M
18.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$18.3K¥3.0M
81.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$106¥17.2K
15.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$20.95¥3,404
-35.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$34.27¥5,568
-45.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$55.7¥9,043
8.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$14.14¥2,298
20.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$13.44¥2,183
-32.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$280¥45.5K
152.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$14.0K¥2.3M
12.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$42.04¥6,830
39.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$20.93¥3,401
68.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$55.6¥9,032
107.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$104¥16.9K
-19.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$471¥76.5K
32.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$335¥54.5K
32.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$858¥139.4K
137.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$670¥108.9K
122.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$3,940¥640.1K
-11.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$2,220¥360.7K
16.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Toyohashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,252¥203.5K
-60.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.05
160.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Toyohashi: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $471 in Toyohashi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Toyohashi pays 151% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in Toyohashi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $238 per month, with Toyohashi 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 Toyohashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toyohashi cheaper than Phuket?
Toyohashi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Toyohashi?
On paper, salaries run 151% lower in Toyohashi. 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 Toyohashi?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $471 in Toyohashi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $280 in Toyohashi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Toyohashi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Toyohashi?
At $1,139 in Toyohashi versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Toyohashi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Toyohashi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Toyohashi more family-friendly?
For families, Toyohashi 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 Toyohashi?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Toyohashi 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 Toyohashi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.