Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yuncheng

For one person, living is cheaper in Yuncheng: $727 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Yuncheng
🇨🇳 China
$727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Yuncheng

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 Yuncheng actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $727 in Yuncheng.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Yuncheng $727

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,139 in Yuncheng.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Yuncheng $1,139

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $1,551 in Yuncheng.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Yuncheng $1,551

Living in Phuket is roughly 66% more expensive than in Yuncheng, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Yuncheng 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$1.96 ¥13.11
124.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$17.81 ¥119
81.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$4.38 ¥29.31
100.00%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$2.15 ¥14.37
31.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$0.36 ¥2.38
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.27 ¥1.79
74.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$0.93 ¥6.25
174.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$1.52 ¥10.18
151.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.43 ¥9.57
20.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$1.68 ¥11.21
-12.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.90 ¥6.04
67.78%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.44 ¥9.61
50.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$11.73 ¥78.4
67.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$4.04 ¥27.04
-17.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$10.59 ¥70.8
5.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$1.63 ¥10.88
74.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.16 ¥7.78
46.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$1.28 ¥8.58
71.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.33 ¥8.86
54.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.65 ¥4.34
123.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$0.75 ¥5.02
84.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.57 ¥3.82
87.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.55 ¥3.66
-7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$3.31 ¥22.16
28.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$9.52 ¥63.6
95.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$0.76 ¥5.09
134.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$1.74 ¥11.61
63.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.29 ¥1.91
679.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$17.62 ¥118
25.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$0.78 ¥5.21
285.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.31 ¥2.08
241.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$4.37 ¥29.20
-11.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.30 ¥8.68
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$19.1K ¥127.4K
38.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$17.8K ¥119.1K
51.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$89.2 ¥596
8.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$6.32 ¥42.28
74.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$10.49 ¥70.2
63.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$41.61 ¥278
25.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$15.17 ¥101
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$5.74 ¥38.41
36.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$696 ¥4,656
-20.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$17.5K ¥117.2K
-33.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$38.90 ¥260
65.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$37.65 ¥252
-23.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$74.7 ¥499
27.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$90.1 ¥602
-2.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$304 ¥2,036
142.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$180 ¥1,206
156.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$617 ¥4,124
239.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$372 ¥2,488
222.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$3,511 ¥23.5K
-0.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,965 ¥13.1K
28.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yuncheng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.35
66.27%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Yuncheng: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Yuncheng
$180 61% $282
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Yuncheng
$193 28.1% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Yuncheng
$106 14.9% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Yuncheng
$109 12.7% $16
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Yuncheng
$65 46.5% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Yuncheng
$53 21.7% $15
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Yuncheng
$21 46.5% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $304 in Yuncheng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Yuncheng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $193 per month, with Yuncheng cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇳 Yuncheng
🕒 Local time
08:31 8:31 AM
09:31 9:31 AM
1 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
5,300,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Yuncheng 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Yuncheng

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 Yuncheng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yuncheng cheaper than Phuket?
Yuncheng is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Phuket and $1,091 in Yuncheng to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Yuncheng?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $304 in Yuncheng. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $696 in Yuncheng. 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 Yuncheng?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Yuncheng?
At $727 in Yuncheng versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yuncheng but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yuncheng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yuncheng more family-friendly?
For families, Yuncheng 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 Yuncheng?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yuncheng 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 Yuncheng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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