ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,719 in Athienou versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,724 in Athienou versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,729 in Athienou versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Athienou is roughly 40% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Athienou is 28% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.63âŽ15.09
$4.63āļŋ151
280.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1âŽ48.89
$46.84āļŋ1,532
21.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.46âŽ7.24
$8.84āļŋ289
-4.30%
Cappuccino
$3.76âŽ3.22
$3.00āļŋ98.0
25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57âŽ1.34
$0.74āļŋ24.25
112.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92âŽ0.78
$0.37āļŋ11.95
148.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38âŽ2.89
$2.44āļŋ79.8
38.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29âŽ3.67
$3.61āļŋ118
18.84%
ð Groceries & Markets
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73âŽ1.48
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-23.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78âŽ1.52
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-3.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34âŽ2.01
$2.24āļŋ73.4
4.46%
Eggs
$3.77âŽ3.22
$2.32āļŋ75.7
62.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.08âŽ12.91
$19.67āļŋ643
-23.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.70âŽ7.45
$3.65āļŋ119
138.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43âŽ11.49
$13.10āļŋ428
2.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80âŽ2.40
$3.39āļŋ111
-17.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89âŽ1.62
$1.64āļŋ53.7
15.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89âŽ1.62
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-21.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61âŽ2.23
$2.03āļŋ66.4
28.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36âŽ1.17
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13âŽ0.96
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-24.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65âŽ0.55
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-36.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88âŽ0.76
$0.49āļŋ16.00
79.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94âŽ5.08
$4.45āļŋ145
33.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.38âŽ7.17
$18.88āļŋ617
-55.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76âŽ1.51
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35âŽ2.01
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-14.55%
ð Getting Around
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24âŽ1.92
$1.40āļŋ45.81
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.6âŽ44.14
$11.48āļŋ376
349.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.55âŽ6.46
$3.12āļŋ102
141.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95âŽ1.67
$1.00āļŋ32.67
95.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.42âŽ18.34
$14.09āļŋ461
52.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57âŽ1.35
$1.35āļŋ44.19
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KâŽ22.5K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-3.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9KâŽ28.1K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-0.19%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191âŽ163
$125āļŋ4,087
52.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.77âŽ19.49
$13.57āļŋ444
67.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.52âŽ29.55
$18.52āļŋ606
86.39%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.1âŽ60.8
$61.5āļŋ2,010
15.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.30âŽ25.08
$16.84āļŋ551
73.99%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55âŽ9.89
$9.19āļŋ300
25.68%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$435âŽ372
$698āļŋ22.8K
-37.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,855âŽ6,724
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-49.62%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9âŽ64.1
$57.8āļŋ1,889
29.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31âŽ27.66
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-8.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8âŽ78.6
$113āļŋ3,699
-18.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108âŽ92.6
$86.4āļŋ2,825
25.18%
ð Accommodation & Living
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$758âŽ649
$616āļŋ20.1K
23.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653âŽ559
$446āļŋ14.6K
46.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,519âŽ1,300
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-25.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,294âŽ1,108
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-13.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764âŽ3,222
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-0.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,526âŽ2,163
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-4.62%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,795âŽ1,537
$524āļŋ17.1K
242.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.74
5.33
-29.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athienou: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Athienou and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Athienou pays 243% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $57.0 in Athienou vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $292, with Athienou 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
Athienou vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Athienou and Phuket?
Athienou and Phuket differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,719 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Athienou or Phuket?
Athienou pays 243% 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 do apartment prices compare in Athienou and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $758 in Athienou versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Athienou or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,719 per month in Athienou versus $1,232 in Phuket â a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Athienou and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 349% less than in Athienou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,719 in Athienou, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Athienou. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Athienou and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Athienou or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Athienou 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.
Where should expats move: Athienou or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 40% less than in Athienou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.