Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tuy HoaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tuy Hoa
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $739 in Tuy Hoa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $1,184 in Tuy Hoa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,628 in Tuy Hoa.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 71% more expensive than in Tuy Hoa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Tuy Hoa46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$2.70₫70.5K
64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$22.64₫590.9K
54.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$4.64₫121.2K
93.10%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.62₫42.3K
85.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$0.38₫9,864
102.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.23₫6,025
104.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$0.58₫15.2K
313.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$1.25₫32.6K
200.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.47₫38.4K
23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.48₫12.6K
195.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$0.98₫25.5K
58.16%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.42₫37.1K
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$12.18₫317.8K
62.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$3.05₫79.5K
14.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$11.27₫294.1K
-1.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$1.85₫48.4K
57.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$0.77₫20.0K
115.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$1.09₫28.5K
108.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$1.16₫30.3K
81.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$0.81₫21.1K
81.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$0.67₫17.5K
110.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.73₫19.1K
49.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.41₫10.7K
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$1.55₫40.5K
189.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$11.61₫302.9K
61.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$0.61₫15.9K
201.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$1.81₫47.3K
62.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.31₫8,044
629.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
$6.65₫173.5K
246.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$0.60₫15.5K
406.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$0.55₫14.4K
98.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$2.35₫61.2K
62.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$0.86₫22.5K
73.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$31.1K₫811.4M
-11.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$27.3K₫713.1M
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$75.0₫2.0M
35.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$6.58₫171.7K
71.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$9.03₫235.8K
96.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
$22.33₫582.7K
142.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
$7.79₫203.3K
40.69%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$1.93₫50.3K
306.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$290₫7.6M
98.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$3,836₫100.1M
203.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$40.62₫1.1M
60.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$26.87₫701.3K
7.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$49.42₫1.3M
100.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$82.0₫2.1M
10.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
$407₫10.6M
85.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
$270₫7.0M
80.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
$747₫19.5M
178.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
$610₫15.9M
97.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
$2,880₫75.2M
24.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
$1,285₫33.5M
103.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tuy Hoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
8.55
-34.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Tuy Hoa: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $407 in Tuy Hoa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $23.00 in Tuy Hoa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $180 per month, with Tuy Hoa 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 Tuy Hoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuy Hoa cheaper than Phuket?
Tuy Hoa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $1,108 in Tuy Hoa 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Tuy Hoa?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Phuket versus $407 in Tuy Hoa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $290 in Tuy Hoa. 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 Tuy Hoa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tuy Hoa?
At $739 in Tuy Hoa versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tuy Hoa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tuy Hoa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tuy Hoa more family-friendly?
For families, Tuy Hoa 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 Tuy Hoa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tuy Hoa 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 Tuy Hoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.