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Osaka vs Phuket cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇯🇵 Osaka
🇹🇭 PhuketPhuket is 40% cheaper than Osaka
Living on $2,726 a month in Osaka feels like about $1,792 in Phuket — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$173 vs $92.3
Per month
$2,726 vs $1,792
Local meal
¥ 900 vs ฿ 90
$6.08 vs $2.73
Taxi 5 km
¥ 2,500 vs ฿ 78
$16.9 vs $2.36
At a glance
FoodPhuket 45% cheaper
Cafés & drinksPhuket 12% cheaper
TransportPhuket 58% cheaper
StayPhuket 31% cheaper
FunPhuket 45% cheaper
- Where Phuket is clearly cheaper: Taxi (86%↓), Haircut (78%↓), Massage (78%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Osaka | Phuket | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 900$6.08 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Phuket −55% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 410$2.77 | ฿ 41$1.24 | Phuket −55% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | ฿ 500$15.2 | Phuket −25% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 500$3.38 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Phuket −19% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 550$3.72 | ฿ 110$3.33 | Phuket −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ฿ 290$8.79 | Phuket −7% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 120$0.81 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Phuket −55% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 300$2.03 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Phuket −55% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | ฿ 78$2.36 | Phuket −86% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ฿ 82$2.48 | Phuket −74% |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 210$1.42 | ฿ 40$1.21 | Phuket −15% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 4,200$28.4 | ฿ 330$10 | Phuket −65% |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 12,000$81.1 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | Phuket −33% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 95,000$642 | ฿ 15,000$455 | Phuket −29% |
| Laundry | ¥ 700$4.73 | ฿ 61$1.85 | Phuket −61% |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | ฿ 330$10 | Phuket −47% |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 2,900$19.6 | ฿ 140$4.24 | Phuket −78% |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 8,400$56.8 | ฿ 410$12.4 | Phuket −78% |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 9,800$66.2 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | Phuket −45% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 1,700$11.5 | ฿ 330$10 | Phuket −13% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Osaka or Phuket?
Phuket is 40% cheaper than Osaka. Daily budget $173 vs $92.3; a month $2,726 vs $1,792.
How do monthly costs compare between Osaka and Phuket?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Osaka is about $2,726 and Phuket about $1,792 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.