๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,667 in Alcorcรณn versus $1,265 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,435 in Alcorcรณn versus $2,297 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,202 in Alcorcรณn versus $3,329 in Phuket.
๐Living in Alcorcรณn is roughly 32% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Alcorcรณn is 24% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05โฌ14.67
$4.70เธฟ153
262.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3โฌ49.27
$45.37เธฟ1,482
26.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38โฌ8.93
$8.43เธฟ275
23.13%
Cappuccino
$2.08โฌ1.79
$2.93เธฟ95.6
-29.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05โฌ2.63
$0.69เธฟ22.40
342.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05โฌ1.77
$0.37เธฟ11.99
454.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.39โฌ3.77
$2.41เธฟ78.6
82.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94โฌ3.39
$3.72เธฟ122
5.91%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$2.23เธฟ72.9
-36.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37โฌ1.18
$1.83เธฟ59.8
-25.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51โฌ1.30
$2.17เธฟ70.8
-30.41%
Eggs
$2.66โฌ2.29
$2.21เธฟ72.3
20.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.92โฌ14.56
$19.74เธฟ645
-14.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.89โฌ7.64
$3.63เธฟ119
144.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78โฌ14.43
$13.53เธฟ442
24.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58โฌ2.22
$3.28เธฟ107
-21.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15โฌ1.85
$1.61เธฟ52.6
33.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53โฌ2.17
$2.41เธฟ78.6
4.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56โฌ3.07
$2.08เธฟ68.1
71.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08โฌ1.79
$1.53เธฟ49.93
35.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25โฌ1.93
$1.48เธฟ48.36
52.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41โฌ1.21
$0.99เธฟ32.29
42.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78โฌ0.67
$0.51เธฟ16.67
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41โฌ5.51
$4.41เธฟ144
45.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24โฌ7.09
$19.38เธฟ633
-57.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19โฌ1.02
$1.78เธฟ58.1
-33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42โฌ2.08
$2.71เธฟ88.6
-10.70%
๐ Getting Around
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70โฌ1.46
$1.37เธฟ44.79
24.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.48โฌ29.66
$11.39เธฟ372
202.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.41โฌ2.08
$3.02เธฟ98.6
-20.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94โฌ0.81
$0.99เธฟ32.48
-5.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.89โฌ24.85
$14.10เธฟ461
104.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86โฌ1.60
$1.36เธฟ44.51
36.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4Kโฌ32.2K
$28.2Kเธฟ921.1K
32.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7Kโฌ25.6K
$32.9Kเธฟ1.1M
-9.65%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114โฌ98.0
$122เธฟ3,975
-6.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.67โฌ17.78
$13.57เธฟ443
52.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.32โฌ31.24
$18.31เธฟ598
98.36%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.61โฌ41.81
$60.2เธฟ1,967
-19.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.18โฌ13.06
$17.14เธฟ560
-11.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.96โฌ8.56
$8.69เธฟ284
14.61%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$520โฌ447
$693เธฟ22.6K
-25.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,160โฌ7,019
$15.7Kเธฟ512.3K
-47.99%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6โฌ64.1
$59.5เธฟ1,944
25.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.49โฌ35.69
$34.77เธฟ1,136
19.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7โฌ77.2
$115เธฟ3,743
-21.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112โฌ96.2
$83.3เธฟ2,720
34.30%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842โฌ724
$613เธฟ20.0K
37.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701โฌ603
$437เธฟ14.3K
60.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325โฌ1,140
$2,094เธฟ68.4K
-36.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$989โฌ851
$1,509เธฟ49.3K
-34.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,478โฌ2,991
$3,749เธฟ122.5K
-7.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,230โฌ1,919
$2,616เธฟ85.4K
-14.73%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Alcorcรณn
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508เธฟ16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
5.33
-35.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alcorcรณn: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Alcorcรณn and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $57.0 in Alcorcรณn vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $293 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
Alcorcรณn vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Alcorcรณn?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,501 in Alcorcรณn 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.
What is the rent difference between Alcorcรณn and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $842 in Alcorcรณn versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Alcorcรณn vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,667 per month in Alcorcรณn versus $1,265 in Phuket โ a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 203% less than in Alcorcรณn. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Alcorcรณn or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,667 in Alcorcรณn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alcorcรณn. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Alcorcรณn or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alcorcรณn, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Alcorcรณn or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Alcorcรณn 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 โ expenses run 32% less than in Alcorcรณn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.