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: $356 in Rundu versus $1,190 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $629 in Rundu versus $2,006 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $902 in Rundu versus $2,822 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Rundu costs roughly 70% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rundu73% lower, Phuket11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.91NAD 248
$4.35฿146
242.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.16NAD 502
$32.45฿1,093
-7.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.00NAD 99.8
$8.42฿283
-28.74%
Cappuccino
$2.10NAD 34.93
$2.81฿94.5
-25.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70NAD 11.60
$0.87฿29.46
-19.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58NAD 9.73
$0.46฿15.48
26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.89NAD 14.88
$2.59฿87.0
-65.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20NAD 19.97
$3.64฿123
-67.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.71฿57.5
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.80NAD 13.39
$1.45฿48.69
-44.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.69NAD 78.1
$1.56฿52.5
200.64%
Eggs
$2.98NAD 49.54
$2.10฿70.7
41.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.22NAD 70.2
$19.53฿657
-78.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94NAD 82.1
$3.40฿114
45.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.81NAD 80.0
$11.14฿375
-56.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NAD 36.21
$2.83฿95.4
-22.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11NAD 35.04
$1.62฿54.6
30.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NAD 20.80
$2.22฿74.9
-43.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95NAD 15.88
$2.15฿72.3
-55.81%
Potato(1kg)
$5.19NAD 86.3
$1.49฿50.2
248.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89NAD 14.74
$1.33฿44.65
-33.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59NAD 9.79
$1.07฿35.92
-44.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06NAD 17.63
$0.51฿17.10
107.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.23NAD 20.47
$4.38฿148
-71.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.92NAD 65.2
$18.77฿632
-79.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26NAD 20.89
$1.74฿58.6
-27.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50NAD 24.88
$2.78฿93.5
-46.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.17฿73.0
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.28฿750
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02฿102
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.06฿35.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.71฿125
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.43฿48.16
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.3K฿887.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.2K฿882.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$96.7฿3,254
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.41฿384
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.11฿576
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.8฿1,778
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07฿373
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.65฿258
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$555฿18.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.3K฿379.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$63.4฿2,135
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.61฿963
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$96.7฿3,256
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.6฿2,983
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$735฿24.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$458฿15.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,102฿70.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,187฿40.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,493฿117.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,491฿83.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rundu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$501฿16.9K
-
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: October 5, 2026
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Rundu vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $268 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 234% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $534 in Rundu and $1,785 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 $30.00 versus $32.00 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 $356 in Rundu versus $1,190 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 234% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.