Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yokohama

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,340 in Yokohama, rent and utilities included – about $740 less a year. The total is higher in Yokohama despite lower rent and utilities.

Phuket, Thailand
Yokohama, Japan
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Yokohama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,340
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Yokohama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Yokohama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,340 in Yokohama.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Yokohama $1,340

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,054 in Yokohama.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Yokohama $2,054

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $2,768 in Yokohama.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Yokohama $2,768

Living in Phuket costs roughly 5% less than in Yokohama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Yokohama 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$6.45 ¥1,019
-30.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$40.72 ¥6,429
-20.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$5.19 ¥820
69.75%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$3.41 ¥538
-17.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.06 ¥167
-17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.74 ¥116
-33.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$2.60 ¥410
-1.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.09 ¥489
19.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.46 ¥231
13.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$1.75 ¥277
-16.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$3.59 ¥567
-58.22%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.03 ¥320
2.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$10.26 ¥1,620
85.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$6.14 ¥970
-46.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.66 ¥2,314
-25.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$5.54 ¥875
-47.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.76 ¥436
-38.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.96 ¥467
-23.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$4.10 ¥647
-49.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.52 ¥398
-40.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$2.58 ¥407
-46.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.30 ¥205
-17.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.77 ¥121
-32.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.90 ¥616
7.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$6.30 ¥995
198.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.82 ¥288
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.09 ¥331
35.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$1.37 ¥217
5.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$62.4 ¥9,856
-9.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.11 ¥491
-2.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$2.66 ¥420
-61.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$20.61 ¥3,254
-82.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.07 ¥169
37.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
24.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$16.1K ¥2.5M
65.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$130 ¥20.6K
-26.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$24.74 ¥3,906
-54.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$32.65 ¥5,155
-48.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$48.93 ¥7,725
37.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$11.78 ¥1,860
-8.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$13.09 ¥2,067
-42.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$805 ¥127.1K
-40.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$15.0K ¥2.4M
-24.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$61.7 ¥9,733
1.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$37.72 ¥5,956
-24.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$62.6 ¥9,887
50.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$102 ¥16.1K
-15.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,097 ¥173.1K
-34.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$450 ¥71.0K
9.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,796 ¥283.6K
7.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$805 ¥127.0K
77.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$5,778 ¥912.2K
-27.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$4,066 ¥641.9K
-25.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$2,669 ¥421.4K
-81.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.64
110.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Yokohama
$450 8.4% $41
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Yokohama
$290 8.8% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Yokohama
$188 50.8% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Yokohama
$119 2.6% $3.2
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Yokohama
$134 10.5% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Yokohama
$75 8.7% $7.1
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Yokohama
$84 19.5% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,097 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays about 5.3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $41 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $290 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇯🇵 Yokohama
🕒 Local time
03:33 3:33 AM
05:33 5:33 AM
2 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
3,777,491
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Yokohama 5,190 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Yokohama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Yokohama?
Phuket is about 5% cheaper overall, especially in utilities, groceries, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yokohama?
On paper, salaries run 81% lower in Phuket. 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 Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,097 in Yokohama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $805 in Yokohama. 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 Yokohama?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Yokohama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 enough for either Phuket or Yokohama?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Phuket gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Phuket or Yokohama more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Yokohama, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Yokohama?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yokohama are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Yokohama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?