🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,141 in Roodepoort versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Roodepoort versus $2,054 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,386 in Roodepoort versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Roodepoort costs roughly 7% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Roodepoort17% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.49R 203
$4.41฿147
183.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.93R 763
$32.26฿1,073
45.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.58R 123
$8.93฿297
-15.12%
Cappuccino
$2.44R 39.74
$2.90฿96.3
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23R 19.93
$0.88฿29.27
39.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R 15.19
$0.48฿16.00
93.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33R 37.87
$2.35฿78.2
-0.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94R 47.72
$3.72฿124
-20.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24R 20.11
$1.87฿62.0
-33.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15R 18.70
$1.47฿48.75
-21.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80R 29.34
$1.55฿51.6
16.13%
Eggs
$2.71R 44.12
$2.10฿69.9
29.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57R 139
$19.59฿651
-56.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.55R 90.3
$3.42฿114
62.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.71R 142
$11.38฿378
-23.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17R 35.28
$2.98฿99.2
-27.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70R 27.65
$1.68฿56.0
1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75R 28.44
$2.21฿73.5
-20.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05R 33.40
$2.16฿71.9
-5.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72R 27.93
$1.52฿50.7
13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71R 27.73
$1.34฿44.49
27.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20R 19.51
$1.13฿37.53
6.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34R 21.80
$0.55฿18.17
143.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43R 55.7
$4.26฿142
-19.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02R 97.8
$19.09฿635
-68.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58R 25.70
$1.78฿59.2
-11.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R 32.59
$2.78฿92.5
-28.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90R 14.58
$2.23฿74.1
-59.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.74฿756
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99R 16.14
$3.03฿101
-67.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90R 14.63
$1.02฿34.02
-11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.71R 239
$3.89฿129
278.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53R 24.92
$1.49฿49.57
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KR 581.3K
$26.6K฿883.8K
34.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KR 561.9K
$27.0K฿898.7K
27.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221R 3,595
$102฿3,407
115.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.04R 618
$11.33฿377
235.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.34R 607
$17.40฿578
114.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.96R 796
$52.1฿1,732
-5.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.25R 118
$7.69฿256
-5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247R 4,017
$561฿18.6K
-55.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,591R 90.9K
$11.5K฿382.6K
-51.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5R 885
$63.0฿2,096
-13.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.23R 540
$29.52฿982
12.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108R 1,762
$98.0฿3,259
10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8R 1,508
$88.5฿2,943
4.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623R 10.1K
$738฿24.5K
-15.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249R 4,054
$482฿16.0K
-48.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569R 25.5K
$2,107฿70.0K
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$538R 8,751
$1,226฿40.8K
-56.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,617฿120.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,603฿86.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roodepoort
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,528R 24.8K
$494฿16.4K
209.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
5.57
101.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roodepoort: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $623 in Roodepoort and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Roodepoort pays 210% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Roodepoort vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $274, with Roodepoort cheaper for home cooking.
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
Roodepoort vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Roodepoort?
Roodepoort is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Roodepoort or Phuket?
Average pay runs 210% higher in Roodepoort, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Roodepoort and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $623 in Roodepoort versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $247 in Roodepoort versus $561 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Roodepoort or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Roodepoort – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $32.00 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 Roodepoort or in Phuket?
At $1,141 in Roodepoort versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roodepoort but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Roodepoort the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Roodepoort or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Roodepoort 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, Roodepoort or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Roodepoort vs other spots: cost of living compared