😐A single person spends $2,535 per month in Ajax, ON vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,633 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,732 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Ajax, ON costs about 100% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ajax, ON sits 84% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.87CA$24.79
$4.66฿154
283.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5CA$74.1
$32.22฿1,065
65.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01CA$15.27
$8.68฿287
26.84%
Cappuccino
$3.76CA$5.22
$2.90฿95.8
29.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80CA$2.49
$0.84฿27.89
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59CA$2.20
$0.49฿16.16
224.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59CA$4.98
$2.48฿82.0
44.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81CA$8.06
$3.73฿123
55.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98CA$2.74
$1.89฿62.3
4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87CA$3.98
$1.41฿46.54
103.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38CA$4.69
$1.62฿53.6
108.64%
Eggs
$3.13CA$4.34
$2.24฿74.1
39.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.41CA$13.05
$19.84฿656
-52.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.87CA$16.47
$3.48฿115
241.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.45CA$24.20
$11.37฿376
53.47%
Apples(1kg)
$4.24CA$5.88
$2.90฿95.8
46.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68CA$2.33
$1.72฿57.0
-2.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.36CA$6.05
$2.27฿75.1
92.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37CA$4.67
$2.13฿70.4
58.22%
Potato(1kg)
$3.10CA$4.30
$1.47฿48.72
110.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98CA$2.75
$1.42฿46.92
39.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.00CA$4.15
$1.10฿36.25
172.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96CA$2.72
$0.60฿19.76
226.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.72
$4.31฿142
229.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.17CA$18.26
$18.60฿615
-29.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14CA$2.96
$1.80฿59.5
18.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60CA$3.60
$2.97฿98.0
-12.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.45CA$3.39
$2.25฿74.2
8.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.1CA$124
$23.49฿776
279.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.86
$3.10฿102
12.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.08฿35.56
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.50CA$35.37
$3.87฿128
558.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10CA$1.53
$1.43฿47.16
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KCA$39.0K
$27.8K฿918.0K
1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KCA$26.8K
$27.0K฿891.5K
-28.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CA$181
$105฿3,462
24.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.51CA$38.16
$11.39฿376
141.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2CA$82.1
$17.54฿580
237.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.70CA$46.73
$54.3฿1,795
-37.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.67CA$14.80
$11.44฿378
-6.73%
Cinema Ticket
$10.27CA$14.24
$7.78฿257
32.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$918CA$1,273
$576฿19.0K
59.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5KCA$24.3K
$11.6K฿382.7K
51.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7CA$73.2
$63.6฿2,103
-17.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03CA$52.7
$29.10฿961
30.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1CA$121
$96.2฿3,179
-9.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1CA$135
$90.0฿2,974
7.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579CA$2,190
$733฿24.2K
115.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391CA$1,929
$501฿16.5K
177.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,315CA$3,211
$2,126฿70.2K
8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,237CA$3,103
$1,252฿41.4K
78.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,534฿116.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,622฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajax, ON
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,053CA$4,234
$508฿16.8K
501.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
5.57
-13.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ajax, ON: September 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Ajax, ON versus $733 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 501% higher in Ajax, ON, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Ajax, ON versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $275 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ajax, ON vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ajax, ON?
Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,802 per month in Ajax, ON and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ajax, ON and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,535 in Ajax, ON and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 279% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ajax, ON or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Ajax, ON at $2,535. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajax, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ajax, ON or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ajax, ON or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.