Cost of Living Comparison Between Rundu and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Rundu and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $353 in Rundu versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $637 in Rundu versus $2,078 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $922 in Rundu versus $2,896 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Rundu costs roughly 72% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rundu74% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.29NAD 246
$4.43฿145
245.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.30NAD 504
$35.07฿1,151
-10.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.03NAD 97.2
$8.96฿294
-32.70%
Cappuccino
$2.12NAD 34.15
$3.00฿98.4
-29.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71NAD 11.48
$0.77฿25.33
-7.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59NAD 9.50
$0.47฿15.44
25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97NAD 15.58
$2.40฿78.6
-59.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21NAD 19.51
$3.75฿123
-67.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.82฿59.8
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.76NAD 12.27
$1.42฿46.65
-46.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.74NAD 76.3
$1.55฿50.8
205.81%
Eggs
$3.14NAD 50.5
$2.13฿69.9
47.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.30NAD 69.3
$19.76฿648
-78.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.92NAD 79.2
$3.48฿114
41.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.03NAD 81.0
$11.09฿364
-54.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21NAD 35.60
$2.91฿95.5
-24.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22NAD 35.77
$1.66฿54.6
33.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27NAD 20.52
$2.27฿74.5
-44.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.91NAD 14.67
$2.10฿68.8
-56.67%
Potato(1kg)
$5.11NAD 82.3
$1.47฿48.24
247.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97NAD 15.63
$1.41฿46.29
-31.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61NAD 9.78
$1.09฿35.78
-44.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08NAD 17.32
$0.54฿17.58
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.26NAD 20.29
$4.48฿147
-71.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.03NAD 64.9
$18.72฿614
-78.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28NAD 20.55
$1.84฿60.4
-30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52NAD 24.52
$2.95฿96.7
-48.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.26฿74.1
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.07฿757
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.04฿99.9
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.09฿35.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.82฿125
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.49฿48.79
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.4K฿900.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.5K฿902.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$102฿3,340
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.28฿370
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.75฿582
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$54.2฿1,777
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.96฿360
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.85฿258
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$577฿18.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.6K฿381.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$65.4฿2,144
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.89฿948
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.1฿3,250
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$90.3฿2,961
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$756฿24.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$487฿16.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,085฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,207฿39.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,591฿117.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,610฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$502฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rundu: August 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Rundu vs $35.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $272 per month, with Rundu 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
Rundu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Rundu?
Rundu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 257% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $529 in Rundu and $1,891 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.
How do food prices compare in Rundu and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Rundu or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Rundu – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Rundu or in Phuket?
At $353 in Rundu versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rundu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rundu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rundu or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Rundu 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, Rundu or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Rundu 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 Rundu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 257% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.