🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Shurugwi versus $1,264 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Shurugwi versus $2,256 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,376 in Shurugwi versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Shurugwi costs roughly 51% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shurugwi53% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93ZWL 265
$4.48฿150
121.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.41ZWL 1,078
$45.59฿1,521
-11.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.03ZWL 188
$8.76฿292
-19.75%
Cappuccino
$1.71ZWL 45.51
$2.97฿99.0
-42.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66ZWL 17.70
$0.69฿22.90
-4.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.62
$0.39฿13.04
12.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46ZWL 38.96
$2.53฿84.4
-42.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02ZWL 53.9
$3.75฿125
-46.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60ZWL 42.78
$2.15฿71.6
-25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02ZWL 27.26
$1.82฿60.6
-43.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87ZWL 49.78
$2.18฿72.9
-14.22%
Eggs
$2.06ZWL 55.0
$2.25฿75.0
-8.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99ZWL 293
$20.00฿667
-45.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.57ZWL 175
$3.63฿121
80.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.22ZWL 166
$13.56฿452
-54.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86ZWL 76.4
$3.24฿108
-11.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63ZWL 43.48
$1.64฿54.6
-0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27ZWL 60.6
$2.33฿77.8
-2.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73ZWL 46.16
$2.07฿69.1
-16.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50ZWL 39.92
$1.55฿51.6
-3.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99ZWL 53.2
$1.46฿48.54
36.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03ZWL 27.52
$0.98฿32.86
5.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 26.86
$0.48฿16.09
110.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07ZWL 28.48
$4.35฿145
-75.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53ZWL 254
$18.57฿620
-48.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16ZWL 31.05
$1.86฿61.9
-37.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71ZWL 45.55
$2.65฿88.6
-35.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.42฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.02ZWL 134
$3.17฿106
58.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98ZWL 52.7
$1.03฿34.41
92.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.94ZWL 132
$13.89฿463
-64.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55ZWL 41.35
$1.34฿44.84
15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KZWL 538.1K
$27.8K฿927.1K
-27.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KZWL 632.9K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-28.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.3ZWL 1,581
$123฿4,105
-51.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48ZWL 466
$13.77฿459
26.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.9ZWL 2,426
$18.33฿611
396.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.7฿2,025
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.16ZWL 271
$8.87฿296
14.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278ZWL 7,425
$688฿22.9K
-59.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,397ZWL 197.4K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-53.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.76ZWL 527
$59.3฿1,978
-66.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.45ZWL 572
$34.69฿1,157
-38.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.15ZWL 938
$115฿3,843
-69.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.00ZWL 1,067
$83.8฿2,794
-52.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$621฿20.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,034฿67.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,496฿49.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
5.33
149.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shurugwi: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Shurugwi vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $291 per month, with Shurugwi 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
Shurugwi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Shurugwi?
Shurugwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $932 in Shurugwi and $1,896 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $278 in Shurugwi versus $688 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Shurugwi or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Shurugwi – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $46.00 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 Shurugwi or in Phuket?
At $621 in Shurugwi versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shurugwi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Shurugwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Shurugwi or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Shurugwi 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, Shurugwi or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Shurugwi 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 Shurugwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.