Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangon (Rangoon) and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangon (Rangoon) and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $798 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,503 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,209 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Yangon (Rangoon) costs roughly 36% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yangon (Rangoon) 40% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 MMK 4,459
$4.55 ฿153
-53.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.00 MMK 37.7K
$46.18 ฿1,554
-61.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 MMK 11.8K
$8.84 ฿298
-36.31%
Cappuccino
$2.09 MMK 4,371
$3.06 ฿103
-31.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MMK 1,549
$0.73 ฿24.42
1.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 MMK 1,237
$0.40 ฿13.40
47.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 MMK 2,042
$2.43 ฿81.8
-59.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 MMK 4,143
$3.78 ฿127
-47.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 MMK 3,991
$2.26 ฿76.0
-15.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 MMK 2,085
$1.81 ฿60.9
-44.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MMK 3,102
$2.25 ฿75.8
-34.22%
Eggs
$1.43 MMK 2,995
$2.25 ฿75.6
-36.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.78 MMK 16.3K
$19.51 ฿656
-60.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.70 MMK 14.0K
$3.65 ฿123
83.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.95 MMK 22.9K
$13.05 ฿439
-16.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.75 MMK 12.0K
$3.23 ฿109
78.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MMK 2,306
$1.62 ฿54.4
-32.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 MMK 5,729
$2.38 ฿80.2
15.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.29 MMK 6,896
$2.03 ฿68.2
62.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 MMK 5,175
$1.53 ฿51.6
61.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 MMK 3,247
$1.50 ฿50.5
3.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 MMK 2,714
$0.98 ฿32.93
32.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 MMK 699
$0.52 ฿17.40
-36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 MMK 3,537
$4.44 ฿149
-61.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.06 MMK 19.0K
$18.32 ฿616
-50.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MMK 2,033
$1.86 ฿62.7
-47.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MMK 2,433
$2.68 ฿90.2
-56.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 MMK 413
$1.41 ฿47.49
-85.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.61 MMK 20.1K
$11.70 ฿394
-17.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 MMK 2,343
$3.11 ฿105
-63.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 MMK 1,999
$1.04 ฿35.08
-8.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 MMK 7,269
$14.11 ฿475
-75.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$10.42 MMK 21.8K
$1.31 ฿44.13
695.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K MMK 78.9M
$27.8K ฿936.0K
35.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3K MMK 113.6M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
63.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.7 MMK 116.5K
$122 ฿4,120
-54.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06 MMK 23.1K
$13.59 ฿457
-18.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.31 MMK 53.0K
$18.70 ฿629
35.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.87 MMK 60.4K
$60.5 ฿2,035
-52.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.62 MMK 24.3K
$16.98 ฿572
-31.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.75 MMK 5,761
$9.07 ฿305
-69.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 MMK 678.3K
$706 ฿23.8K
-54.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K MMK 32.7M
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-1.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 MMK 166.1K
$58.6 ฿1,970
35.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 MMK 134.9K
$35.36 ฿1,190
82.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 MMK 202.2K
$115 ฿3,885
-16.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 MMK 301.5K
$83.7 ฿2,818
71.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$548 MMK 1.1M
$626 ฿21.1K
-12.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 MMK 380.9K
$445 ฿15.0K
-59.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,102 MMK 2.3M
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-46.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$850 MMK 1.8M
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-43.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,158 MMK 4.5M
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-38.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$944 MMK 2.0M
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-63.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yangon (Rangoon)
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$283 MMK 591.8K
$500 ฿16.8K
-43.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5.33
106.38%

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

Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Yangon (Rangoon) and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 77% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $289 per month, with Yangon (Rangoon) 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
Yangon (Rangoon) vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Yangon (Rangoon)?
Yangon (Rangoon) is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Yangon (Rangoon) or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Yangon (Rangoon) and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $548 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $324 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $706 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 Yangon (Rangoon) and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Yangon (Rangoon) or in Phuket?
At $798 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yangon (Rangoon) but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Yangon (Rangoon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Yangon (Rangoon) or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Yangon (Rangoon) 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, Yangon (Rangoon) or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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