Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yona Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $315 in Yona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $677 in Yona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,039 in Yona.

Living in Phuket is roughly 303% more expensive than Yona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Yona 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿150

$20.11 $20.11

-76.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.44 ฿1,496

$79.4 $79.4

-41.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿280

$11.77 $11.77

-26.25%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ฿95.0

$6.09 $6.09

-51.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ฿22.52

$1.96 $1.96

-64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿12.70

$1.51 $1.51

-74.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿81.6

$4.90 $4.90

-48.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿122

$7.02 $7.02

-46.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ฿71.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ฿57.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ฿70.4

Eggs

$2.31 ฿74.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 ฿623

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ฿121

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 ฿426

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.24

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ฿48.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 ฿625

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿86.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ฿46.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿97.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.68 ฿441

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿41.85

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.9K ฿898.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K ฿1.1M

$24.1K $24.1K

37.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿3,962

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.82 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.86 ฿608

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 ฿1,970

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿286

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$696 ฿22.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿517.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,910

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ฿1,123

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,646

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 ฿2,740

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 ฿19.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿48.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,734 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ฿85.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$534 ฿17.2K

$3,207 $3,207

-83.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Yona: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $0 in Yona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yona pays 501% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46 in Phuket vs $79 in Yona. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $0, with Yona 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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yona is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 303% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Yona earns 501% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Yona – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Phuket versus $315 in Yona – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $315 in Yona versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yona but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Yona 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Yona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Yona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 303% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.