🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $902 in Alexandria versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,401 in Alexandria versus $2,054 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Alexandria versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Alexandria costs roughly 27% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria34% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.89RON 40.78
$4.41฿147
101.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.83RON 146
$32.26฿1,077
-1.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90RON 36.24
$8.93฿298
-11.53%
Cappuccino
$1.74RON 7.97
$2.90฿96.6
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91RON 8.78
$0.88฿29.38
117.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57RON 7.19
$0.48฿16.06
227.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.28
$2.35฿78.5
-4.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65RON 12.17
$3.72฿124
-28.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51RON 6.92
$1.87฿62.3
-19.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85RON 3.92
$1.47฿48.94
-42.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.41
$1.55฿51.8
-23.87%
Eggs
$2.19RON 10.05
$2.10฿70.1
4.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.31RON 24.38
$19.59฿654
-72.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.55RON 20.88
$3.42฿114
33.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.08RON 37.07
$11.38฿380
-29.00%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.29
$2.98฿99.6
-68.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20RON 5.49
$1.68฿56.2
-28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01RON 4.63
$2.21฿73.7
-54.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.73
$2.16฿72.1
-52.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69RON 3.18
$1.52฿50.9
-54.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64RON 2.95
$1.34฿44.67
-52.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75RON 3.42
$1.13฿37.67
-33.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 4.15
$0.55฿18.24
65.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.51RON 25.27
$4.26฿142
29.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.37RON 24.64
$19.09฿637
-71.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96RON 4.40
$1.78฿59.4
-46.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11RON 5.10
$2.78฿92.9
-60.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68RON 3.12
$2.23฿74.4
-69.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.97RON 202
$22.74฿759
93.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45RON 2.08
$3.03฿101
-85.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45RON 2.08
$1.02฿34.15
-55.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66RON 25.97
$3.89฿130
45.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.90
$1.49฿49.77
15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KRON 77.5K
$26.6K฿887.3K
-36.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KRON 111.4K
$27.0K฿902.2K
-10.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120RON 549
$102฿3,420
16.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.56RON 25.52
$11.33฿378
-50.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.20RON 37.64
$17.40฿581
-52.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4RON 282
$52.1฿1,738
17.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.11RON 120
$11.07฿370
135.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54RON 29.99
$7.69฿257
-14.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$323RON 1,483
$561฿18.7K
-42.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,000RON 32.1K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-39.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3RON 254
$63.0฿2,104
-12.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.39RON 107
$29.52฿986
-20.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4RON 304
$98.0฿3,272
-32.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1RON 299
$88.5฿2,954
-26.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323RON 1,484
$738฿24.6K
-56.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$253RON 1,160
$482฿16.1K
-47.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597RON 2,740
$2,107฿70.3K
-71.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443RON 2,032
$1,226฿40.9K
-63.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,315RON 6,032
$3,617฿120.7K
-63.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$829RON 3,802
$2,603฿86.9K
-68.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$886RON 4,064
$494฿16.5K
79.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.73
5.57
20.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria: September 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Alexandria and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Alexandria vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $274 per month, with Alexandria 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
Alexandria vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alexandria or Phuket?
Alexandria wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Alexandria or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 79% higher in Alexandria, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alexandria compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $323 in Alexandria versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Alexandria compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $902 per month in Alexandria versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Alexandria compared to Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Alexandria runs roughly 93% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Alexandria or in Phuket?
At $902 in Alexandria versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alexandria or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $902 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria hard to pass up.
How safe is Alexandria compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Alexandria 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alexandria vs other spots: cost of living compared