Cost of Living Comparison Between Byblos and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Byblos and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Byblos versus $1,264 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Byblos versus $2,256 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,223 in Byblos versus $3,248 in Phuket.

Living in Byblos costs roughly 21% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Byblos 25% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 LBP 705.7K
$4.48 ฿150
76.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.19 LBP 3.8M
$45.59 ฿1,520
-7.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.93 LBP 710.1K
$8.76 ฿292
-9.47%
Cappuccino
$2.91 LBP 260.6K
$2.97 ฿99.0
-2.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 LBP 87.5K
$0.69 ฿22.89
42.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 LBP 90.7K
$0.39 ฿13.03
158.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.53 ฿84.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.75 ฿125
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 LBP 107.2K
$2.15 ฿71.6
-44.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 LBP 55.8K
$1.82 ฿60.5
-65.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 LBP 139.6K
$2.18 ฿72.9
-28.44%
Eggs
$2.08 LBP 186.4K
$2.25 ฿75.0
-7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.98 LBP 804.0K
$20.00 ฿667
-55.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.07 LBP 722.6K
$3.63 ฿121
122.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 LBP 1.1M
$13.56 ฿452
-11.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 LBP 272.6K
$3.24 ฿108
-5.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 LBP 184.3K
$1.64 ฿54.6
25.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 LBP 87.6K
$2.33 ฿77.8
-57.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 LBP 177.6K
$2.07 ฿69.1
-4.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 LBP 88.3K
$1.55 ฿51.6
-36.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 LBP 91.5K
$1.46 ฿48.53
-30.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 LBP 91.1K
$0.98 ฿32.85
4.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 LBP 91.0K
$0.48 ฿16.09
112.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.35 ฿145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$3.97 LBP 355.3K
$18.57 ฿619
-78.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 LBP 134.1K
$1.86 ฿61.9
-19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 LBP 176.1K
$2.65 ฿88.5
-25.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 LBP 91.9K
$1.42 ฿47.26
-27.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.57 ฿386
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.17 ฿106
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.03 ฿34.40
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$13.89 ฿463
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 LBP 85.6K
$1.34 ฿44.83
-28.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K LBP 2.0B
$27.8K ฿926.8K
-20.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K LBP 2.0B
$33.4K ฿1.1M
-31.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 LBP 9.1M
$123 ฿4,104
-17.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 LBP 2.0M
$13.77 ฿459
60.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.21 LBP 2.3M
$18.33 ฿611
37.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.89 LBP 3.4M
$60.7 ฿2,024
-37.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49 LBP 1.7M
$17.16 ฿572
7.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.90 LBP 886.0K
$8.87 ฿296
11.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$393 LBP 35.2M
$688 ฿22.9K
-42.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,036 LBP 271.7M
$15.8K ฿526.2K
-80.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100 LBP 9.0M
$59.3 ฿1,978
68.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.3 LBP 8.8M
$34.69 ฿1,157
183.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 LBP 10.8M
$115 ฿3,841
4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 LBP 13.6M
$83.8 ฿2,793
81.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 LBP 26.7M
$621 ฿20.7K
-52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 LBP 20.3M
$446 ฿14.9K
-49.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$804 LBP 71.9M
$2,034 ฿67.8K
-60.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$396 LBP 35.4M
$1,496 ฿49.9K
-73.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,346 LBP 120.5M
$3,455 ฿115.2K
-61.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$826 LBP 73.9M
$2,531 ฿84.4K
-67.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$988 LBP 88.4M
$494 ฿16.5K
100.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.33
50.09%

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

Last update for Byblos: July 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $298 in Byblos and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byblos pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Byblos vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $291 per month, with Byblos 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
Byblos vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Byblos?
Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Byblos or Phuket?
Average pay runs 100% higher in Byblos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Byblos and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $298 in Byblos versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $393 in Byblos versus $688 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Byblos or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Byblos or in Phuket?
At $1,005 in Byblos versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Byblos but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Byblos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Byblos or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Byblos is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Byblos or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Byblos 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Byblos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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