Cost of Living Comparison Between Basseterre and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Basseterre and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,461 per month in Basseterre vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Basseterre vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,630 per month in Basseterre vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Basseterre costs about 19% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Basseterre sits 7% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.68 EC$50.4

$4.41 ฿147

323.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.17 EC$38.26

$8.93 ฿298

58.68%

Cappuccino

$3.78 EC$10.19

$2.90 ฿96.6

30.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 EC$5.36

$0.88 ฿29.38

126.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 EC$6.05

$0.48 ฿16.06

366.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 EC$5.39

$2.35 ฿78.5

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 EC$10.12

$3.72 ฿124

0.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 EC$6.44

$1.87 ฿62.3

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 EC$9.75

$1.47 ฿48.94

145.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 EC$9.90

$1.55 ฿51.8

136.77%

Eggs

$5.71 EC$15.42

$2.10 ฿70.1

171.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.51 EC$25.69

$3.42 ฿114

178.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 EC$11.87

$2.98 ฿99.6

47.65%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 EC$8.12

$1.68 ฿56.2

79.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 EC$10.13

$2.16 ฿72.1

73.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 EC$5.90

$1.52 ฿50.9

44.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 EC$5.03

$1.34 ฿44.67

38.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 EC$1.85

$0.55 ฿18.24

25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 EC$5.09

$1.78 ฿59.4

6.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 EC$10.17

$2.78 ฿92.9

35.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 EC$6.09

$2.23 ฿74.4

1.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.38 EC$55.0

$3.03 ฿101

572.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$86.8 EC$234

$102 ฿3,420

-15.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.38 EC$106

$11.33 ฿378

247.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.53 EC$98.6

$52.1 ฿1,738

-29.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 EC$17.26

$7.69 ฿257

-16.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.9 EC$240

$63.0 ฿2,104

40.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 EC$355

$98.0 ฿3,272

34.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 EC$1,899

$738 ฿24.6K

-4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 EC$1,728

$482 ฿16.1K

32.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,996 EC$13.5K

$3,617 ฿120.7K

38.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,007 EC$10.8K

$2,603 ฿86.9K

53.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,099 EC$2,967

$494 ฿16.5K

122.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-28.19%

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

Last update for Basseterre: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $703 in Basseterre versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 123% higher in Basseterre, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Basseterre vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,461 in Basseterre, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 19% apart. Basseterre costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,191 per month in Basseterre and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,461 in Basseterre and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Basseterre – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Basseterre at $1,461. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basseterre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,461 in Basseterre. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basseterre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.