😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,204 in Biarritz versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,363 in Biarritz versus $2,286 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,522 in Biarritz versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Biarritz is roughly 75% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biarritz is 64% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.13€18.20
$4.56฿149
363.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.7€54.0
$46.63฿1,519
34.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.23€9.68
$8.47฿276
32.59%
Cappuccino
$3.70€3.19
$3.03฿98.6
22.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.43
$0.69฿22.45
308.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.41
$0.37฿11.92
343.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91€6.81
$2.49฿81.0
217.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79€5.85
$3.66฿119
85.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.12
$2.18฿71.0
-40.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.48
$1.90฿62.0
-9.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.20฿71.6
4.09%
Eggs
$5.27€4.54
$2.22฿72.4
137.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.57€13.41
$19.99฿651
-22.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.40€14.13
$3.66฿119
348.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.34€19.25
$13.25฿432
68.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13€2.70
$3.23฿105
-3.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.70฿55.3
37.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18€2.74
$2.39฿78.0
33.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68€4.03
$2.08฿67.7
125.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49€2.15
$1.59฿51.8
56.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$1.48฿48.31
73.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83€1.58
$1.03฿33.54
77.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.62
$0.52฿16.83
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.34€11.50
$4.25฿138
213.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.24€8.82
$18.79฿612
-45.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.47
$1.76฿57.2
63.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$2.76฿89.8
19.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43€1.23
$1.36฿44.32
5.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.44€41.73
$11.36฿370
326.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.73€4.94
$3.14฿102
82.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79€1.54
$1.04฿33.74
72.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.35€38.21
$13.77฿448
222.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.34฿43.79
54.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K€21.4K
$27.7K฿901.4K
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.0K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228€197
$124฿4,025
84.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.12€20.78
$13.52฿440
78.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.97€27.55
$18.69฿609
71.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7€52.3
$61.8฿2,013
-1.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.19€13.09
$17.25฿562
-11.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.61€10.00
$9.14฿298
27.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$929€801
$703฿22.9K
32.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K€11.4K
$15.9K฿517.0K
-16.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€92.7
$59.5฿1,937
80.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.66€37.62
$35.07฿1,142
24.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0€82.8
$115฿3,754
-16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146€126
$84.1฿2,737
73.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842€726
$619฿20.1K
36.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$863€743
$433฿14.1K
99.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,926€1,659
$2,062฿67.2K
-6.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,561€1,345
$1,511฿49.2K
3.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.8K€9,286
$3,646฿118.7K
195.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,932€6,835
$2,626฿85.5K
202.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biarritz
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,023
$507฿16.5K
363.19%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Biarritz and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Biarritz pays 363% 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 $392 vs $293 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 75% in total monthly costs ($2,204 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: Biarritz or Phuket?
Biarritz pays 363% 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: $842 in Biarritz versus $619 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 34% 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 $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,204 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 75% less than in Biarritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.