😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,191 in Biarritz versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,290 in Biarritz versus $2,255 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,389 in Biarritz versus $3,279 in Phuket.
😐Living in Biarritz is roughly 78% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biarritz is 64% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.69€17.67
$4.63฿151
346.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1€53.9
$46.84฿1,523
34.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32€9.67
$8.84฿287
28.05%
Cappuccino
$3.77€3.22
$3.00฿97.4
25.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.40
$0.74฿24.11
279.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$0.37฿11.88
348.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.12€6.94
$2.44฿79.3
232.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.77€5.78
$3.61฿117
87.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.06
$2.26฿73.5
-44.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.52
$1.84฿59.8
-3.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.24฿73.0
6.70%
Eggs
$5.23€4.47
$2.32฿75.3
125.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.37€13.13
$19.67฿639
-21.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.45€14.05
$3.65฿119
350.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.99€19.64
$13.10฿426
75.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.76
$3.39฿110
-4.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30€1.96
$1.64฿53.4
40.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08€2.63
$2.41฿78.5
27.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63€3.95
$2.03฿66.0
128.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.56฿50.6
51.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53€2.16
$1.50฿48.66
68.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.60
$1.02฿33.30
83.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.61
$0.49฿15.91
44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.37€11.41
$4.45฿145
200.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.53€8.99
$18.88฿614
-44.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.44
$1.78฿57.7
60.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.82
$2.75฿89.5
20.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42€1.21
$1.40฿45.54
1.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.45€41.38
$11.48฿373
322.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.65€4.82
$3.12฿101
81.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84€1.57
$1.00฿32.48
84.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.90€37.49
$14.09฿458
211.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.80
$1.35฿43.93
56.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K€21.3K
$27.2K฿883.7K
-8.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K€28.0K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€194
$125฿4,063
81.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.22€20.68
$13.57฿441
78.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.93€27.27
$18.52฿602
72.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.2€53.1
$61.5฿1,999
1.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.35€13.11
$16.84฿547
-8.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.68€9.98
$9.19฿299
27.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$944€806
$698฿22.7K
35.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.3K
$15.6K฿506.9K
-14.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110€94.1
$57.8฿1,878
90.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.57€37.21
$35.24฿1,146
23.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0€82.8
$113฿3,677
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146€125
$86.4฿2,808
69.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€730
$616฿20.0K
38.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882€753
$446฿14.5K
97.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,895€1,618
$2,048฿66.6K
-7.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528€1,305
$1,492฿48.5K
2.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9K€9,336
$3,779฿122.8K
189.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,166€6,974
$2,649฿86.1K
208.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,403€2,052
$524฿17.0K
358.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
5.33
-39.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Biarritz: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $855 in Biarritz and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Biarritz pays 359% 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: $63.0 in Biarritz vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $292 per month, with Phuket 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
Biarritz vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Biarritz and Phuket?
Biarritz and Phuket differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($2,191 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Biarritz or Phuket?
Biarritz pays 359% 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 Biarritz and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $855 in Biarritz versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Biarritz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $63.0 in Biarritz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,191 in Biarritz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Biarritz. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Biarritz 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 Biarritz or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Biarritz 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: Biarritz or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Biarritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.