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: $998 in Byblos versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,589 in Byblos versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,180 in Byblos versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Byblos costs roughly 19% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Byblos 25% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.10 LBP 724.9K
$4.63 ฿151
74.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.76 LBP 3.7M
$46.84 ฿1,532
-10.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 LBP 733.4K
$8.84 ฿289
-7.35%
Cappuccino
$2.94 LBP 263.3K
$3.00 ฿98.0
-2.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 LBP 87.4K
$0.74 ฿24.25
32.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 LBP 88.2K
$0.37 ฿11.95
167.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44 ฿79.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61 ฿118
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 LBP 111.5K
$2.26 ฿73.9
-44.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 LBP 58.5K
$1.84 ฿60.1
-64.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 LBP 143.6K
$2.24 ฿73.4
-28.57%
Eggs
$2.04 LBP 182.7K
$2.32 ฿75.7
-12.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 LBP 821.9K
$19.67 ฿643
-53.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.18 LBP 732.4K
$3.65 ฿119
124.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.17 LBP 1.1M
$13.10 ฿428
-7.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 LBP 273.7K
$3.39 ฿111
-9.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 LBP 182.6K
$1.64 ฿53.7
24.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 LBP 91.9K
$2.41 ฿79.0
-57.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 LBP 180.7K
$2.03 ฿66.4
-0.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 LBP 87.1K
$1.56 ฿50.9
-37.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 LBP 88.2K
$1.50 ฿48.94
-34.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 LBP 90.7K
$1.02 ฿33.50
-0.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 LBP 87.8K
$0.49 ฿16.00
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45 ฿145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.09 LBP 365.6K
$18.88 ฿617
-78.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 LBP 134.0K
$1.78 ฿58.1
-15.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 LBP 177.3K
$2.75 ฿90.1
-28.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 LBP 91.8K
$1.40 ฿45.81
-26.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.48 ฿376
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12 ฿102
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.00 ฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09 ฿461
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 LBP 82.2K
$1.35 ฿44.19
-31.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K LBP 2.0B
$27.2K ฿888.9K
-18.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K LBP 2.0B
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-31.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 LBP 9.0M
$125 ฿4,087
-19.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.46 LBP 2.0M
$13.57 ฿444
65.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.83 LBP 2.2M
$18.52 ฿606
34.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.59 LBP 3.4M
$61.5 ฿2,010
-38.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56 LBP 1.7M
$16.84 ฿551
10.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93 LBP 888.4K
$9.19 ฿300
8.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$403 LBP 36.1M
$698 ฿22.8K
-42.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,964 LBP 265.3M
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-80.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3 LBP 8.8M
$57.8 ฿1,889
70.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$101 LBP 9.1M
$35.24 ฿1,152
187.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 LBP 10.7M
$113 ฿3,699
5.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 LBP 13.7M
$86.4 ฿2,825
76.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 LBP 26.4M
$616 ฿20.1K
-52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$228 LBP 20.4M
$446 ฿14.6K
-48.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 LBP 71.2M
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-61.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 LBP 36.5M
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-72.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,326 LBP 118.7M
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-64.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$855 LBP 76.5M
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-67.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$998 LBP 89.4M
$524 ฿17.1K
90.62%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $295 in Byblos and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byblos pays 91% 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 $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $292 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 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Byblos or Phuket?
Byblos pays 91% more on average, 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: $295 in Byblos versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $403 in Byblos versus $698 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 Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Byblos or Phuket?
At $998 in Byblos versus $1,232 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 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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