Cost of Living Comparison Between Weihai and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Weihai and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $613 in Weihai versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Weihai versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,265 in Weihai versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Weihai costs roughly 52% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Weihai 54% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 ¥18.67
$4.70 ฿153
-41.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.98 ¥115
$45.37 ฿1,482
-62.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ¥31.58
$8.43 ฿275
-44.72%
Cappuccino
$3.47 ¥23.47
$2.93 ฿95.6
18.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.94
$0.69 ฿22.40
-37.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.12
$0.37 ฿11.99
-16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ¥5.59
$2.41 ฿78.6
-65.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥13.76
$3.72 ฿122
-45.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.84
$2.23 ฿72.9
-41.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 ¥7.30
$1.83 ฿59.8
-40.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.15
$2.17 ฿70.8
-58.06%
Eggs
$1.22 ¥8.25
$2.21 ฿72.3
-44.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.29 ¥76.5
$19.74 ฿645
-42.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 ¥26.67
$3.63 ฿119
8.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 ¥69.9
$13.53 ฿442
-23.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 ¥6.79
$3.28 ฿107
-69.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.08
$1.61 ฿52.6
-53.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 ¥9.19
$2.41 ฿78.6
-43.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.15
$2.08 ฿68.1
-49.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 ¥2.77
$1.53 ฿49.93
-73.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ¥2.73
$1.48 ฿48.36
-72.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ¥4.83
$0.99 ฿32.29
-28.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.43
$0.51 ฿16.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 ¥25.21
$4.41 ฿144
-15.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 ¥51.3
$19.38 ฿633
-60.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ¥2.71
$1.78 ฿58.1
-77.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ¥10.30
$2.71 ฿88.6
-43.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ¥1.49
$1.37 ฿44.79
-83.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.63 ¥85.5
$11.39 ฿372
10.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 ¥7.43
$3.02 ฿98.6
-63.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ¥1.35
$0.99 ฿32.48
-79.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.04 ¥47.66
$14.10 ฿461
-50.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥7.21
$1.36 ฿44.51
-22.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥129.5K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-32.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K ¥109.3K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-50.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 ¥239
$122 ฿3,975
-71.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.02 ¥47.53
$13.57 ฿443
-48.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.68 ¥52.0
$18.31 ฿598
-58.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.21 ¥279
$60.2 ฿1,967
-31.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 ¥58.0
$17.14 ฿560
-50.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66 ¥38.31
$8.69 ฿284
-34.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ¥1,869
$693 ฿22.6K
-60.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K ¥113.7K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
6.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ¥508
$59.5 ฿1,944
26.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.50 ¥186
$34.77 ฿1,136
-20.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 ¥478
$115 ฿3,743
-38.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.18 ¥286
$83.3 ฿2,720
-49.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$181 ¥1,224
$613 ฿20.0K
-70.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$130 ¥882
$437 ฿14.3K
-70.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 ¥2,338
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-83.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 ¥1,237
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-87.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,787 ¥12.1K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-52.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,074 ¥7,276
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-58.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Weihai
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$618 ¥4,184
$508 ฿16.6K
21.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
5.33
-34.33%

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

Last update for Weihai: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Weihai and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Weihai pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Weihai vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $293 per month, with Weihai 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
Weihai vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Weihai?
Weihai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Weihai or Phuket?
Weihai pays 22% more on average, 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 Weihai and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Weihai versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $276 in Weihai versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Weihai and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Weihai or Phuket?
At $613 in Weihai versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Weihai but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Weihai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Weihai or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Weihai 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, Weihai or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Weihai 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 Weihai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Weihai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities