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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $736 in Yaounde.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,190 in Yaounde.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,644 in Yaounde.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 70% more expensive than in Yaounde, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Yaounde45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$4.89FCFA 2,806
-6.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$44.62FCFA 25.6K
3.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.65FCFA 3,246
56.46%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.73FCFA 1,566
12.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.43FCFA 819
-48.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.66FCFA 379
-39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.16FCFA 664
109.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$1.75FCFA 1,005
116.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$2.86FCFA 1,641
-20.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.02FCFA 583
77.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.11FCFA 635
102.70%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.79FCFA 1,028
25.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$14.15FCFA 8,123
37.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.11FCFA 3,510
-40.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$5.89FCFA 3,382
121.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$4.62FCFA 2,651
-30.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$2.08FCFA 1,192
-22.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$2.06FCFA 1,183
15.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.24FCFA 711
63.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.67FCFA 958
-8.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.45FCFA 832
3.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.57FCFA 328
71.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.01FCFA 578
-48.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$1.72FCFA 987
158.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$8.63FCFA 4,954
112.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.28FCFA 734
45.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.55FCFA 891
72.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.61FCFA 349
131.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$17.38FCFA 9,981
-32.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.60FCFA 346
418.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.42FCFA 240
147.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$5.78FCFA 3,319
144.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.34FCFA 772
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$33.6KFCFA 19.3M
-17.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$15.6KFCFA 9.0M
112.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$78.6FCFA 45.1K
55.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$21.11FCFA 12.1K
-35.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$47.48FCFA 27.3K
-60.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$26.58FCFA 15.3K
127.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$7.21FCFA 4,140
135.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$6.66FCFA 3,826
36.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$335FCFA 192.4K
110.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$1,827FCFA 1.0M
764.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$16.31FCFA 9,364
258.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$24.04FCFA 13.8K
47.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$19.51FCFA 11.2K
491.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$58.0FCFA 33.3K
44.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$149FCFA 85.4K
320.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$121FCFA 69.4K
268.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$498FCFA 285.7K
310.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$252FCFA 144.5K
492.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$866FCFA 497.3K
302.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$614FCFA 352.5K
319.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$184FCFA 105.9K
171.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $149 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 171% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Yaounde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $240 per month, with Yaounde 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 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 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yaounde?
Average pay runs 171% 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: $626 in Phuket versus $149 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $335 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 20% 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 $736 in Yaounde versus $1,250 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 70% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.