😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,954 in Aarschot versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,881 in Aarschot versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,808 in Aarschot versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Aarschot is roughly 56% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aarschot is 46% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50€15.31
$4.55฿153
284.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9€79.5
$46.18฿1,554
96.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72€10.25
$8.84฿298
32.58%
Cappuccino
$4.04€3.54
$3.06฿103
32.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.95
$0.73฿24.42
361.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.72
$0.40฿13.40
677.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90€4.28
$2.43฿81.8
101.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80€3.32
$3.78฿127
0.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.20
$2.26฿76.0
-39.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.88€2.52
$1.81฿60.9
59.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62€2.29
$2.25฿75.8
16.44%
Eggs
$3.98€3.48
$2.25฿75.6
76.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.08€10.57
$19.51฿656
-38.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.69€10.22
$3.65฿123
220.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.22€15.06
$13.05฿439
31.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.55
$3.23฿109
-9.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.06
$1.62฿54.4
45.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28€2.00
$2.38฿80.2
-4.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66€2.33
$2.03฿68.2
31.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24€1.96
$1.53฿51.6
46.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.50฿50.5
14.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.27
$0.98฿32.93
47.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.52฿17.40
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.51€10.94
$4.44฿149
181.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78€5.93
$18.32฿616
-62.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.57
$1.86฿62.7
-3.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.74
$2.68฿90.2
-25.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82€2.46
$1.41฿47.49
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.3€49.24
$11.70฿394
381.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74€5.03
$3.11฿105
84.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67€2.34
$1.04฿35.08
156.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.67€30.33
$14.11฿475
145.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.66
$1.31฿44.13
44.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K€26.2K
$27.8K฿936.0K
7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K€24.7K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-14.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182€160
$122฿4,120
48.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.88€19.15
$13.59฿457
61.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.79€42.69
$18.70฿629
160.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.64€33.81
$60.5฿2,035
-36.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.65€14.56
$16.98฿572
-1.94%
Cinema Ticket
$14.19€12.41
$9.07฿305
56.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$660€577
$706฿23.8K
-6.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.7K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-15.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.8
$58.6฿1,970
77.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91€27.92
$35.36฿1,190
-9.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.4€82.6
$115฿3,885
-18.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€116
$83.7฿2,818
57.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$897€785
$626฿21.1K
43.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$749€656
$445฿15.0K
68.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346€1,178
$2,040฿68.7K
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,098€961
$1,492฿50.2K
-26.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,788€3,314
$3,483฿117.2K
8.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,263€2,854
$2,577฿86.7K
26.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aarschot
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,195€2,795
$500฿16.8K
539.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
5.33
-38.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aarschot: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $897 in Aarschot and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aarschot pays 539% 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: $91.0 in Aarschot vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Aarschot vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Aarschot?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aarschot or Phuket?
Average pay runs 539% higher in Aarschot, 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 Aarschot and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $897 in Aarschot versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Aarschot and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Aarschot. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Aarschot or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $91.0 in Aarschot. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aarschot or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,954 in Aarschot, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Aarschot. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aarschot or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aarschot, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aarschot or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Aarschot 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Aarschot. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.