Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and YaoundeCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yaounde
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $829 in Yaounde.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,260 in Yaounde.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,690 in Yaounde.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 51% more expensive than in Yaounde, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Yaounde40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$3.61FCFA 2,033
26.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$53.7FCFA 30.3K
-39.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$5.25FCFA 2,959
69.52%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.04FCFA 1,150
37.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.94
$1.53FCFA 860
-42.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.54FCFA 304
-9.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$1.24FCFA 701
92.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$1.76FCFA 990
110.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$3.80FCFA 2,142
-52.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.40
$1.11FCFA 628
29.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.32FCFA 746
19.70%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.16FCFA 1,216
-1.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$14.28FCFA 8,049
39.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$6.03FCFA 3,401
-43.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$6.77FCFA 3,818
67.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$5.26FCFA 2,964
-43.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.11FCFA 1,189
-18.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$2.17FCFA 1,225
6.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.47FCFA 828
41.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.34
$1.69FCFA 953
-13.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.65
$1.44FCFA 810
-5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.13
$1.12FCFA 633
-1.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.68FCFA 385
-16.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$1.73FCFA 976
146.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$8.96FCFA 5,051
105.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$1.42FCFA 801
31.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$2.04FCFA 1,152
43.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
$0.60FCFA 340
270.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$17.94FCFA 10.1K
27.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$0.64FCFA 359
373.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.32
$0.43FCFA 242
148.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$6.23FCFA 3,514
-36.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.06
$1.48FCFA 832
0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.0K
$33.6KFCFA 18.9M
-19.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.6K
$22.3KFCFA 12.6M
23.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,380
$82.1FCFA 46.3K
25.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$18.00FCFA 10.1K
-38.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$52.9FCFA 29.8K
-66.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$24.24FCFA 13.7K
120.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$7.33FCFA 4,129
52.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$8.66FCFA 4,879
-13.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$642FCFA 361.9K
-13.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.7K
$2,469FCFA 1.4M
379.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,107
$17.46FCFA 9,841
266.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$28.15FCFA 15.9K
3.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,155
$26.92FCFA 15.2K
256.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$57.6FCFA 32.5K
56.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$147FCFA 82.6K
398.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$191FCFA 107.6K
161.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$411FCFA 231.5K
409.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$217FCFA 122.3K
457.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$888FCFA 500.8K
304.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$621FCFA 349.9K
304.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
$192FCFA 108.4K
161.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
13
-57.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Yaounde: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $147 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 162% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Yaounde. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $261, with Yaounde cheaper for home cooking.
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 Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yaounde cheaper than Phuket?
Yaounde is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yaounde?
Average pay runs 162% 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 Yaounde?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $147 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $642 in Yaounde. 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 Yaounde?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% 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 Yaounde?
At $829 in Yaounde versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yaounde but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yaounde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yaounde more family-friendly?
For families, Yaounde 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 Yaounde?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yaounde 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 Yaounde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.