Cost of Living Comparison Between Athienou and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Athienou and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,734 in Athienou versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,748 in Athienou versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Athienou versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Athienou is roughly 37% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athienou is 29% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18 €14.80
$4.56 ฿149
276.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3 €50.2
$46.63 ฿1,519
24.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 €7.53
$8.47 ฿276
3.07%
Cappuccino
$3.77 €3.25
$3.03 ฿98.6
24.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.69 ฿22.45
117.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 €0.85
$0.37 ฿11.92
164.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 €2.97
$2.49 ฿81.0
38.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 €3.85
$3.66 ฿119
22.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.18 ฿71.0
-20.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.90 ฿62.0
-10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 €2.09
$2.20 ฿71.6
10.00%
Eggs
$3.63 €3.13
$2.22 ฿72.4
63.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.33 €13.21
$19.99 ฿651
-23.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.98 €7.73
$3.66 ฿119
145.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.59 €11.71
$13.25 ฿432
2.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.40
$3.23 ฿105
-13.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 €1.62
$1.70 ฿55.3
10.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$2.39 ฿78.0
-20.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 €2.25
$2.08 ฿67.7
25.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.59 ฿51.8
-13.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.48 ฿48.31
-22.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 €0.58
$1.03 ฿33.54
-33.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.52 ฿16.83
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81 €5.00
$4.25 ฿138
36.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.16 €7.03
$18.79 ฿612
-56.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.76 ฿57.2
-3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 €2.03
$2.76 ฿89.8
-14.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.36 ฿44.32
68.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.5 €45.26
$11.36 ฿370
362.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 €6.42
$3.14 ฿102
137.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.04 ฿33.74
91.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.07 €18.15
$13.77 ฿448
53.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.34 ฿43.79
23.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K €22.6K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-5.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K €28.1K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-3.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €162
$124 ฿4,025
52.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.43 €19.33
$13.52 ฿440
65.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.29 €29.55
$18.69 ฿609
83.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.5 €60.7
$61.8 ฿2,013
13.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.89 €25.75
$17.25 ฿562
73.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60 €9.99
$9.14 ฿298
26.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$435 €375
$703 ฿22.9K
-38.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,843 €6,757
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-50.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3 €64.1
$59.5 ฿1,937
25.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95 €28.39
$35.07 ฿1,142
-6.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 €77.3
$115 ฿3,754
-22.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 €91.8
$84.1 ฿2,737
26.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 €677
$619 ฿20.1K
27.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 €571
$433 ฿14.1K
53.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 €1,319
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-25.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 €1,146
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-11.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,887 €3,349
$3,646 ฿118.7K
6.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,462 €2,121
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-6.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athienou
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,757 €1,514
$507 ฿16.5K
246.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.74
5.33
-29.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athienou: June 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Athienou and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athienou pays 247% 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: $58.0 in Athienou vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $293, 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 37% in total monthly costs ($1,734 vs $1,261 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Athienou or Phuket?
Athienou pays 247% 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: $786 in Athienou versus $619 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 $1,734 per month in Athienou versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 37% 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 362% 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 $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,734 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 – 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 – expenses run 37% less than in Athienou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Athienou vs other spots: cost of living compared

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