😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $798 in Yangon (Rangoon).
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,534 in Yangon (Rangoon).
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,270 in Yangon (Rangoon).
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 59% more expensive than Yangon (Rangoon), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Yangon (Rangoon)40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$2.17MMK 4,537
116.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$17.80MMK 37.3K
154.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$5.47MMK 11.5K
54.11%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.09MMK 4,366
40.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.79MMK 1,652
-12.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.61MMK 1,268
-39.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$0.98MMK 2,059
145.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.03MMK 4,246
83.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.83MMK 3,824
21.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.96MMK 2,010
90.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.45MMK 3,045
49.66%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.41MMK 2,945
56.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$7.78MMK 16.3K
153.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$6.90MMK 14.4K
-47.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$11.08MMK 23.2K
22.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$5.53MMK 11.6K
-40.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.10MMK 2,312
46.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.82MMK 5,899
-14.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$3.19MMK 6,683
-34.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.61MMK 5,454
-41.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.55MMK 3,245
-4.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.35MMK 2,822
-26.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.33MMK 696
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$1.60MMK 3,340
175.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$9.17MMK 19.2K
111.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.92MMK 1,930
93.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.20MMK 2,503
125.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.20MMK 414
585.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$9.86MMK 20.6K
15.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.09MMK 2,280
177.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.91MMK 1,903
8.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$3.53MMK 7,381
299.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$10.76MMK 22.5K
-87.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$38.6KMMK 80.8M
-26.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$54.2KMMK 113.6M
-39.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$54.4MMK 113.8K
123.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$11.04MMK 23.1K
22.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$24.70MMK 51.7K
-25.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$28.12MMK 58.9K
114.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$11.64MMK 24.4K
47.25%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.67MMK 5,597
225.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$322MMK 674.5K
115.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$15.7KMMK 32.8M
0.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$79.5MMK 166.4K
-25.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$64.7MMK 135.5K
-46.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$96.3MMK 201.5K
19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$142MMK 297.6K
-41.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$533MMK 1.1M
15.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$180MMK 377.7K
142.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$1,119MMK 2.3M
87.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$852MMK 1.8M
77.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$2,120MMK 4.4M
76.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$921MMK 1.9M
184.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yangon (Rangoon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$284MMK 595.4K
78.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11
-51.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $533 in Yangon (Rangoon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 79% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Yangon (Rangoon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $237 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. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yangon (Rangoon)?
Phuket pays 79% more on average, 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: $613 in Phuket versus $533 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 $693 in Phuket versus $322 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 Yangon (Rangoon)?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 Yangon (Rangoon)?
At $798 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $1,265 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 59% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.