😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $767 in Yangon (Rangoon).
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,280 in Yangon (Rangoon).
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,792 in Yangon (Rangoon).
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 61% more expensive than in Yangon (Rangoon), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Yangon (Rangoon)44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$2.63MMK 5,508
67.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$16.95MMK 35.5K
90.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$2.93MMK 6,133
204.78%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.69MMK 3,545
71.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.76MMK 1,588
15.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.61MMK 1,287
-21.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$1.02MMK 2,126
130.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.94MMK 4,070
91.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.75MMK 3,660
6.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.18MMK 2,461
24.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$2.18MMK 4,573
-28.90%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$1.89MMK 3,954
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$6.59MMK 13.8K
197.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$4.59MMK 9,613
-25.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$6.00MMK 12.6K
89.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$4.68MMK 9,795
-36.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.11MMK 2,333
51.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$4.08MMK 8,552
-45.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$3.05MMK 6,377
-29.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$2.59MMK 5,423
-41.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.67MMK 3,498
-19.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.20MMK 2,516
-5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.50MMK 1,055
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$1.67MMK 3,489
155.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$9.15MMK 19.2K
108.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$0.90MMK 1,884
97.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.19MMK 2,496
133.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.23MMK 481
869.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$10.05MMK 21.0K
126.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.02MMK 2,143
197.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.99MMK 2,067
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$2.78MMK 5,814
39.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$9.25MMK 19.4K
-83.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$30.2KMMK 63.2M
-11.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$48.3KMMK 101.0M
-43.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$49.44MMK 103.5K
107.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$7.33MMK 15.4K
54.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$18.45MMK 38.6K
-5.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$19.60MMK 41.0K
165.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$11.02MMK 23.1K
0.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$2.55MMK 5,347
201.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$505MMK 1.1M
11.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$17.5KMMK 36.7M
-34.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$90.3MMK 189.1K
-30.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$63.6MMK 133.1K
-53.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$101MMK 211.2K
-2.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$131MMK 273.5K
-32.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$365MMK 764.7K
102.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$193MMK 403.4K
150.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,051MMK 2.2M
100.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$534MMK 1.1M
129.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$2,190MMK 4.6M
65.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$951MMK 2.0M
173.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$273MMK 572.5K
80.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
12
-53.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $365 in Yangon (Rangoon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $17.00 in Yangon (Rangoon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $215 per month, with Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yangon (Rangoon) cheaper than Phuket?
Yangon (Rangoon) is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yangon (Rangoon)?
Average pay runs 81% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Yangon (Rangoon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $365 in Yangon (Rangoon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $505 in Yangon (Rangoon). 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 Yangon (Rangoon)?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% 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 Yangon (Rangoon)?
At $767 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yangon (Rangoon) but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yangon (Rangoon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yangon (Rangoon) more family-friendly?
For families, Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon)?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.