Cost of Living Comparison Between Ranong and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ranong and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,043 in Ranong versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Ranong versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,342 in Ranong versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Ranong costs roughly 17% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ranong 24% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.71 ฿155
$4.56 ฿150
3.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.56 ฿1,136
$32.62 ฿1,072
5.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 ฿289
$8.90 ฿293
-1.24%
Cappuccino
$2.91 ฿95.6
$2.80 ฿92.2
3.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.36
$0.88 ฿28.93
-5.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.62
$0.49 ฿16.08
-10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.37 ฿78.0
$2.39 ฿78.5
-0.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$3.71 ฿122
0.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ฿63.0
$1.79 ฿58.7
7.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 ฿48.62
$1.44 ฿47.38
2.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.2
$1.58 ฿52.1
2.53%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿71.3
$2.13 ฿69.9
1.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿658
$19.92 ฿655
0.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ฿117
$3.43 ฿113
3.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.46 ฿377
$11.33 ฿372
1.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 ฿101
$2.95 ฿96.9
4.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ฿54.9
$1.72 ฿56.6
-2.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 ฿77.1
$2.32 ฿76.4
1.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 ฿73.1
$2.08 ฿68.4
6.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$1.47 ฿48.33
5.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.83
$1.36 ฿44.64
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ฿37.62
$1.10 ฿36.12
3.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.98
$0.57 ฿18.89
-3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 ฿143
$4.27 ฿140
1.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.11 ฿628
$18.42 ฿605
3.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 ฿61.6
$1.87 ฿61.5
0.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿97.7
$2.92 ฿96.0
1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ฿31.08
$2.22 ฿72.9
-57.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.90 ฿753
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ฿39.11
$3.03 ฿99.6
-60.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.53
$1.07 ฿35.31
0.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 ฿128
$3.93 ฿129
-0.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ฿48.10
$1.49 ฿49.04
-2.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿893.7K
$27.1K ฿891.7K
0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K ฿892.9K
$27.5K ฿902.3K
-1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,443
$103 ฿3,379
1.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.14 ฿366
$10.99 ฿361
1.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿571
$17.51 ฿576
-0.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.09 ฿1,614
$53.5 ฿1,760
-8.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.22 ฿467
$11.20 ฿368
26.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.99 ฿262
$7.48 ฿246
6.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 ฿18.9K
$557 ฿18.3K
3.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$11.9K ฿389.6K
-1.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ฿2,087
$64.1 ฿2,106
-0.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.80 ฿979
$29.07 ฿956
2.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ฿3,291
$96.0 ฿3,154
4.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7 ฿2,982
$90.3 ฿2,970
0.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 ฿15.6K
$730 ฿24.0K
-34.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 ฿9,598
$500 ฿16.4K
-41.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 ฿40.5K
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-41.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 ฿23.4K
$1,209 ฿39.7K
-41.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,991 ฿65.4K
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-44.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,647 ฿54.1K
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-34.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

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

Last update for Ranong: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Ranong and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ranong vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $273 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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
Ranong vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ranong?
Ranong is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,565 in Ranong and $1,880 in Phuket 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 Ranong and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Ranong versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $575 in Ranong versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ranong or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Ranong – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ranong or in Phuket?
At $1,043 in Ranong versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ranong but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ranong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ranong or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Ranong 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, Ranong or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ranong and Phuket 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 Ranong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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