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: $1,253 in Phuket versus $136 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $217 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $299 in Zimba.

Living in Phuket is roughly 821% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Zimba 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

185.26%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.61 ZMW 30.73

73.91%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$0.76 ZMW 14.54

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.36 ZMW 6.83

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$0.76 ZMW 14.61

214.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$1.03 ZMW 19.66

260.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

$1.07 ZMW 20.45

34.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.55 ZMW 29.64

1.94%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

56.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$3.78 ZMW 72.1

199.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

$1.87 ZMW 35.64

57.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.57 ZMW 29.93

9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$3.25 ZMW 62.0

-28.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

150.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

$0.82 ZMW 15.70

65.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

$0.86 ZMW 16.48

27.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.51 ZMW 9.76

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

$6.24 ZMW 119

195.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$0.82 ZMW 15.63

128.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

$1.07 ZMW 20.46

172.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

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

$10.99 ฿361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zimba: August 31, 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, Getting Around. The 821% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $204 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 175% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $136 in Zimba – a 821% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $136 in Zimba versus $1,253 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 821% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.