😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,108 in Windhoek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,797 in Windhoek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,485 in Windhoek.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 14% more expensive than Windhoek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Windhoek17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$10.55NAD 172
-55.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$38.77NAD 630
17.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$5.35NAD 87.0
57.57%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.94NAD 31.53
51.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.96NAD 15.57
-28.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.95NAD 15.37
-61.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.86NAD 30.25
29.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.28NAD 37.01
63.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.45NAD 23.51
53.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.86NAD 13.94
112.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.66NAD 27.04
30.72%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.80NAD 45.47
-21.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$6.21NAD 101
217.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$5.33NAD 86.6
-31.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$6.79NAD 110
99.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.86NAD 30.16
76.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.90NAD 30.84
-15.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.72NAD 27.87
40.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.77NAD 28.70
17.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.04NAD 33.17
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.81NAD 29.47
-18.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.88NAD 30.54
-47.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$1.14NAD 18.59
-55.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.81NAD 45.70
56.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$7.21NAD 117
168.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.34NAD 21.80
32.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.85NAD 30.03
46.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.70NAD 11.34
95.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$40.64NAD 661
-71.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$0.68NAD 11.12
344.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.73NAD 11.89
35.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$11.51NAD 187
22.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.23NAD 19.93
10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$21.2KNAD 344.2K
33.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$24.0KNAD 389.7K
37.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$116NAD 1,893
4.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$17.47NAD 284
-22.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$51.0NAD 828
-64.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$37.28NAD 606
61.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$13.37NAD 217
28.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$5.42NAD 88.1
60.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$218NAD 3,539
218.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$5,110NAD 83.0K
206.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$51.7NAD 840
15.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$26.89NAD 437
29.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$89.3NAD 1,451
28.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$83.2NAD 1,353
0.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$490NAD 7,970
25.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$389NAD 6,326
12.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$1,257NAD 20.4K
66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$950NAD 15.4K
58.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,660NAD 27.0K
125.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$616NAD 10.0K
324.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Windhoek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,037NAD 16.8K
-50.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.69
-54.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Windhoek: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $490 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Windhoek pays 104% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Windhoek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $199 per month, with Windhoek 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 Windhoek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windhoek cheaper than Phuket?
Windhoek is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Windhoek?
On paper, Windhoek earns 104% less. 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 Windhoek?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $490 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $218 in Windhoek. 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 Windhoek?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Windhoek?
At $1,108 in Windhoek versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Windhoek but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Windhoek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Windhoek more family-friendly?
For families, Windhoek 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 Windhoek?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Windhoek 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 Windhoek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.