Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $113 in Zimba versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $176 in Zimba versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $239 in Zimba versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Zimba costs roughly 91% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zimba 92% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

$8.43 ฿275

-70.58%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

$2.93 ฿95.6

-57.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

$0.69 ฿22.40

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

$0.37 ฿11.99

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

$2.41 ฿78.6

-75.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

$3.72 ฿122

-78.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

$1.83 ฿59.8

-53.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

$2.17 ฿70.8

-41.47%

Eggs

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

$2.21 ฿72.3

-49.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

$13.53 ฿442

-78.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

$3.28 ฿107

-54.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

$1.61 ฿52.6

-21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

$2.41 ฿78.6

0.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

$2.08 ฿68.1

-71.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

$1.48 ฿48.36

-58.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

$0.99 ฿32.29

-25.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

$0.51 ฿16.67

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$6.58 ZMW 117

$19.38 ฿633

-66.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

$1.78 ฿58.1

-65.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

$2.71 ฿88.6

-69.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

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

Zimba vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zimba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 1017% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $170 in Zimba and $1,898 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 262% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $113 per month in Zimba versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 1017% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Zimba 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.

Safety-wise, Zimba 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.

Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1017% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.