Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $174 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $235 in Zimba.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1002% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

263.79%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

139.06%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

285.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

344.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

126.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

87.50%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

114.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

345.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

125.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

27.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

-2.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

222.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

138.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

42.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$6.62 ZMW 121

176.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

190.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

215.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿4,118

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

$13.59 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zimba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1002% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $170 in Zimba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 260% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $113 in Zimba – a 1002% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Zimba 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 Zimba 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 Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1002% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.