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: $905 in Ranong versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,558 in Ranong versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,211 in Ranong versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Ranong costs roughly 28% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ranong 32% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿154
$4.55 ฿153
0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.29 ฿1,523
$46.18 ฿1,553
-1.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.41 ฿283
$8.84 ฿297
-4.86%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.9
$3.06 ฿103
-2.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿23.07
$0.73 ฿24.40
-5.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.37
$0.40 ฿13.39
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿80.8
$2.43 ฿81.8
-1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$3.78 ฿127
0.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.4
$2.26 ฿76.0
-3.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 ฿46.57
$1.81 ฿60.9
-23.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿73.8
$2.25 ฿75.8
-2.22%
Eggs
$2.23 ฿74.9
$2.25 ฿75.5
-0.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.26 ฿648
$19.51 ฿656
-1.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.98
$3.65 ฿123
-62.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.33 ฿448
$13.05 ฿439
2.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ฿113
$3.23 ฿109
4.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 ฿57.5
$1.62 ฿54.4
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿77.2
$2.38 ฿80.1
-3.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 ฿29.46
$2.03 ฿68.1
-56.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.4
$1.53 ฿51.6
1.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.91
$1.50 ฿50.5
-3.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿34.24
$0.98 ฿32.91
4.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.15
$0.52 ฿17.39
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 ฿151
$4.44 ฿149
1.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.85 ฿634
$18.32 ฿616
2.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.3
$1.86 ฿62.7
-3.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ฿89.9
$2.68 ฿90.1
-0.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.29
$1.41 ฿47.46
-34.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿393
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 ฿36.79
$3.11 ฿105
-64.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.85
$1.04 ฿35.06
-2.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿467
$14.11 ฿474
-1.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ฿37.95
$1.31 ฿44.10
-13.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿933.4K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K ฿1.1M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.23 ฿1,252
$122 ฿4,118
-69.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.64 ฿459
$13.59 ฿457
0.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.31 ฿414
$18.70 ฿629
-34.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.33 ฿1,625
$60.5 ฿2,034
-20.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.37 ฿416
$16.98 ฿571
-27.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿308
$9.07 ฿305
0.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 ฿23.4K
$706 ฿23.8K
-1.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.4K
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-0.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.00 ฿942
$58.6 ฿1,969
-52.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.44 ฿519
$35.36 ฿1,189
-56.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ฿3,844
$115 ฿3,883
-1.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.67 ฿1,233
$83.7 ฿2,816
-56.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.4K
$626 ฿21.0K
-31.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,669
$445 ฿15.0K
-35.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$824 ฿27.7K
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-59.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$644 ฿21.7K
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-56.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,954 ฿65.7K
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-43.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,374 ฿46.2K
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-46.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ranong
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.33
-

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

Last update for Ranong: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Ranong and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Ranong vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $289 per month, with Ranong 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,358 in Ranong and $1,875 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: $428 in Ranong versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Ranong versus $706 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 $45.00 versus $46.00 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 $905 in Ranong versus $1,250 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 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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