Cost of Living Comparison Between Timaru and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Timaru and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Timaru is 49.8% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 65.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Timaru is 56.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 29.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.94 NZ$24.64
$4.68 ΰΈΏ151
219.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 NZ$131
$46.4 ΰΈΏ1,502
71.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 NZ$16.04
$8.65 ΰΈΏ280
12.37%
Cappuccino
$3.51 NZ$5.79
$3.09 ΰΈΏ100
13.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 NZ$3.59
$0.73 ΰΈΏ23.53
197.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 NZ$3.11
$0.37 ΰΈΏ11.95
410.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 NZ$9.77
$2.39 ΰΈΏ77.4
147.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21 NZ$10.24
$3.62 ΰΈΏ117
71.55%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.69
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.5
-27.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 NZ$3.28
$1.8 ΰΈΏ58.2
10.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 NZ$1.97
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.3
-46.43%
Eggs
$6.43 NZ$10.6
$2.23 ΰΈΏ72.1
188.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 NZ$16.26
$19.31 ΰΈΏ625
-48.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 NZ$17.64
$3.77 ΰΈΏ122
183.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.6 NZ$27.39
$13.05 ΰΈΏ422
27.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 NZ$4.37
$3.28 ΰΈΏ106
-19.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 NZ$4.16
$1.63 ΰΈΏ52.6
54.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 NZ$5.01
$2.4 ΰΈΏ77.7
26.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.86 NZ$9.66
$1.99 ΰΈΏ64.3
194.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 NZ$4.4
$1.53 ΰΈΏ49.62
74.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 NZ$3.93
$1.49 ΰΈΏ48.11
59.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.92 NZ$4.82
$1.02 ΰΈΏ32.87
186.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 NZ$1.91
$0.48 ΰΈΏ15.61
141.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29 NZ$47.83
$4.32 ΰΈΏ140
571.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 NZ$12.01
$21.68 ΰΈΏ702
-66.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.84 NZ$7.98
$1.77 ΰΈΏ57.3
173.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 NZ$11.2
$2.79 ΰΈΏ90.4
143.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 NZ$3.53
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.74
58.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 NZ$105
$11.76 ΰΈΏ380
439.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 NZ$4.78
$3.15 ΰΈΏ102
-7.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NZ$1.8
$1 ΰΈΏ32.3
9.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.85 NZ$52.5
$13.64 ΰΈΏ442
133.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 NZ$2.63
$1.3 ΰΈΏ42.2
22.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K NZ$49.6K
$27.4K ΰΈΏ885.2K
9.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K NZ$30.1K
$33.9K ΰΈΏ1.1M
-46.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 NZ$316
$123 ΰΈΏ3,970
56.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.72 NZ$39.12
$13.93 ΰΈΏ451
70.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5 NZ$99.7
$18.24 ΰΈΏ590
231.41%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 NZ$60.9
$60.8 ΰΈΏ1,966
-39.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.27 NZ$20.23
$17.11 ΰΈΏ554
-28.29%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 NZ$22.03
$9.07 ΰΈΏ294
47.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 NZ$800
$694 ΰΈΏ22.5K
-30.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,159 NZ$11.8K
$15.9K ΰΈΏ514.4K
-54.96%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 NZ$146
$57.5 ΰΈΏ1,861
53.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.39 NZ$81.5
$34.51 ΰΈΏ1,117
43.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 NZ$159
$115 ΰΈΏ3,727
-16.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$276 NZ$455
$84.8 ΰΈΏ2,743
225.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$988 NZ$1,630
$611 ΰΈΏ19.8K
61.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 NZ$1,303
$442 ΰΈΏ14.3K
78.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 NZ$2,635
$2,014 ΰΈΏ65.2K
-20.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 NZ$2,360
$1,460 ΰΈΏ47.2K
-1.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,243 NZ$6,998
$4,244 ΰΈΏ137.3K
-0.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,354 NZ$5,532
$2,886 ΰΈΏ93.4K
16.21%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Timaru
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$697 ΰΈΏ22.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
5.33
26.45%

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

Last update for Timaru: October 28, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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