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Phuket vs Qingdao cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇳 QingdaoPhuket and Qingdao cost about the same
Living on $1,792 a month in Phuket feels like about $1,659 in Qingdao — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$92.3 vs $90.5
Per month
$1,792 vs $1,659
Local meal
฿ 90 vs ¥ 25
$2.73 vs $3.52
Taxi 5 km
฿ 78 vs ¥ 22
$2.36 vs $3.1
At a glance
FoodPhuket 13% cheaper
Cafés & drinksQingdao 24% cheaper
TransportQingdao 11% cheaper
StayQingdao 5% cheaper
FunPhuket 26% cheaper
- Where Qingdao is clearly cheaper: Transit (77%↓), Cocktail & wine (50%↓), Beer (49%↓)
- Where Phuket is clearly cheaper: Haircut (57%↓), Massage (56%↓), Taxi (24%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Phuket | Qingdao | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 90$2.73 | ¥ 25$3.52 | Phuket −23% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 41$1.24 | ¥ 11$1.55 | Phuket −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 500$15.2 | ¥ 100$14.1 | Qingdao −7% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 90$2.73 | ¥ 25$3.52 | Phuket −23% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 110$3.33 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Qingdao −49% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 290$8.79 | ¥ 31$4.37 | Qingdao −50% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 12$0.36 | ¥ 3$0.42 | Phuket −14% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 30$0.91 | ¥ 7.5$1.06 | Phuket −14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 78$2.36 | ¥ 22$3.1 | Phuket −24% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 82$2.48 | ¥ 20$2.82 | Phuket −12% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 40$1.21 | ¥ 2$0.28 | Qingdao −77% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 330$10 | ¥ 80$11.3 | Phuket −11% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | ¥ 350$49.3 | Qingdao −10% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 15,000$455 | ¥ 3,200$451 | similar |
| Laundry | ฿ 61$1.85 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Qingdao −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 330$10 | ¥ 70$9.86 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 140$4.24 | ¥ 70$9.86 | Phuket −57% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 410$12.4 | ¥ 200$28.2 | Phuket −56% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | ¥ 250$35.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 330$10 | ¥ 60$8.45 | Qingdao −15% |
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, Phuket or Qingdao?
Phuket and Qingdao cost about the same. Daily budget $92.3 vs $90.5; a month $1,792 vs $1,659.
How do monthly costs compare between Phuket and Qingdao?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Phuket is about $1,792 and Qingdao about $1,659 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.