🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $843 in Alexandria versus $1,223 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Alexandria versus $2,237 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,980 in Alexandria versus $3,251 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Alexandria costs roughly 31% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria37% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.17RON 41.92
$4.51฿148
103.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.40RON 153
$46.62฿1,528
-28.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78RON 30.99
$8.49฿278
-20.14%
Cappuccino
$1.81RON 8.26
$3.08฿101
-41.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.79
$0.68฿22.26
182.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64RON 7.49
$0.36฿11.84
355.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37RON 10.82
$2.43฿79.5
-2.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70RON 12.35
$3.63฿119
-25.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41RON 6.45
$2.19฿71.7
-35.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RON 5.56
$1.81฿59.5
-32.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41RON 6.44
$2.23฿73.1
-36.77%
Eggs
$1.35RON 6.15
$2.24฿73.3
-39.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.22RON 23.86
$19.60฿642
-73.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.67RON 21.35
$3.72฿122
25.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.72RON 39.82
$13.47฿441
-35.26%
Apples(1kg)
$0.91RON 4.15
$3.36฿110
-72.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.88
$1.62฿53.0
-6.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12RON 5.12
$2.41฿79.0
-53.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13RON 5.18
$1.99฿65.2
-43.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.45RON 2.04
$1.53฿50.2
-70.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68RON 3.10
$1.45฿47.59
-53.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44RON 2.01
$1.01฿33.23
-56.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72RON 3.30
$0.48฿15.86
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39RON 24.64
$4.27฿140
26.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.49RON 25.08
$19.12฿627
-71.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67RON 3.07
$1.84฿60.2
-63.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 4.00
$2.74฿89.8
-67.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.23
$1.42฿46.44
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.24RON 106
$11.72฿384
98.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48RON 2.20
$3.00฿98.4
-84.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41RON 1.87
$1.05฿34.28
-60.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.20RON 23.75
$13.90฿456
-62.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56RON 7.14
$1.29฿42.28
20.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KRON 81.6K
$28.0K฿918.7K
-36.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KRON 108.6K
$33.5K฿1.1M
-29.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118RON 540
$122฿3,997
-3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.10RON 32.44
$13.93฿457
-49.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.81RON 31.10
$18.87฿618
-63.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.31RON 170
$61.3฿2,008
-39.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.01RON 41.15
$16.84฿552
-46.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57RON 20.89
$8.89฿291
-48.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423RON 1,932
$691฿22.7K
-38.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,887RON 31.5K
$16.2K฿529.5K
-57.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7RON 314
$57.8฿1,894
18.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.94RON 155
$35.39฿1,160
-4.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.0RON 315
$113฿3,716
-39.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8RON 319
$83.0฿2,720
-15.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339RON 1,547
$607฿19.9K
-44.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234RON 1,069
$448฿14.7K
-47.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803RON 3,671
$2,029฿66.5K
-60.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585RON 2,675
$1,493฿48.9K
-60.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,306RON 5,967
$3,585฿117.5K
-63.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$829RON 3,787
$2,585฿84.7K
-67.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,375RON 6,282
$505฿16.5K
172.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.33
21.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria: June 16, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $339 in Alexandria and $607 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 172% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Alexandria vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $292 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 45% 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 172% 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: $339 in Alexandria versus $607 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 $843 per month in Alexandria versus $1,223 in Phuket – a 45% 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 98% 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 $843 in Alexandria versus $1,223 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 $843 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 45% 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