Cost of Living Comparison Between Andong and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Andong and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,421 in Andong versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,229 in Andong versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,036 in Andong versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Andong is roughly 13% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Andong is 6% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18₩10.9K
$4.56฿149
57.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.68₩55.7K
$46.63฿1,519
-21.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.51₩8,361
$8.47฿276
-34.95%
Cappuccino
$3.92₩5,958
$3.03฿98.6
29.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51₩2,299
$0.69฿22.45
118.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85₩1,297
$0.37฿11.92
129.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25₩4,938
$2.49฿81.0
30.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05₩7,667
$3.66฿119
37.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22₩3,378
$2.18฿71.0
1.83%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03₩4,609
$1.90฿62.0
59.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13₩4,756
$2.20฿71.6
42.27%
Eggs
$2.88₩4,374
$2.22฿72.4
29.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42₩15.8K
$19.99฿651
-47.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.24₩12.5K
$3.66฿119
125.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.38₩41.6K
$13.25฿432
106.64%
Apples(1kg)
$7.70₩11.7K
$3.23฿105
138.39%
Banana(1kg)
$3.26₩4,953
$1.70฿55.3
91.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.62₩8,540
$2.39฿78.0
135.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.37₩8,152
$2.08฿67.7
158.17%
Potato(1kg)
$3.96₩6,013
$1.59฿51.8
149.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82₩4,286
$1.48฿48.31
90.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19₩3,325
$1.03฿33.54
112.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15₩1,747
$0.52฿16.83
121.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33₩5,064
$4.25฿138
-21.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.11₩24.5K
$18.79฿612
-14.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79₩2,721
$1.76฿57.2
1.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30₩5,014
$2.76฿89.8
19.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Andong
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06₩1,606
$1.36฿44.32
-22.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46₩5,259
$3.14฿102
10.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53₩800
$1.04฿33.74
-49.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.90₩13.5K
$13.77฿448
-35.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₩1,845
$1.34฿43.79
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K₩42.3M
$27.7K฿901.4K
0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K₩37.6M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-26.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166₩251.6K
$124฿4,025
34.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.20₩51.9K
$13.52฿440
152.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.32₩33.9K
$18.69฿609
19.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.62₩73.8K
$61.8฿2,013
-21.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.86₩16.5K
$9.14฿298
18.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$411₩624.8K
$703฿22.9K
-41.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K₩35.5M
$15.9K฿517.0K
47.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1₩91.3K
$59.5฿1,937
1.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32₩73.4K
$35.07฿1,142
37.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0₩121.4K
$115฿3,754
-30.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117₩177.3K
$84.1฿2,737
38.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Andong
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$461₩699.6K
$619฿20.1K
-25.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377₩572.8K
$433฿14.1K
-12.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,048₩1.6M
$2,062฿67.2K
-49.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$755₩1.1M
$1,511฿49.2K
-50.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,255₩12.5M
$3,646฿118.7K
126.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,611₩7.0M
$2,626฿85.5K
75.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Andong
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,659₩2.5M
$507฿16.5K
227.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
5.33
-22.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Andong: June 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $461 in Andong and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Andong pays 227% 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: $37.00 in Andong vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $293, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.
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
Andong vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Andong or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Andong. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Andong or Phuket?
Andong pays 227% more on average, 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 Andong vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $461 in Andong versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Andong and Phuket?
Childcare runs $411 in Andong versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Andong vs Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $37.00 in Andong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Andong or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,421 in Andong, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Andong. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Andong or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Andong compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Andong 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Andong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.