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: $980 in Byblos versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,570 in Byblos versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Byblos versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Byblos costs roughly 22% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Byblos 27% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96 LBP 712.4K
$4.56 ฿149
74.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.68 LBP 3.7M
$46.63 ฿1,519
-10.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.93 LBP 709.5K
$8.47 ฿276
-6.38%
Cappuccino
$2.98 LBP 267.1K
$3.03 ฿98.6
-1.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 LBP 87.4K
$0.69 ฿22.45
42.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 LBP 90.8K
$0.37 ฿11.92
172.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.49 ฿81.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 LBP 108.2K
$2.18 ฿71.0
-44.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 LBP 55.5K
$1.90 ฿62.0
-67.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 LBP 144.1K
$2.20 ฿71.6
-26.82%
Eggs
$2.14 LBP 191.2K
$2.22 ฿72.4
-3.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 LBP 823.3K
$19.99 ฿651
-53.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 LBP 754.5K
$3.66 ฿119
130.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.77 LBP 1.1M
$13.25 ฿432
-11.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 LBP 272.4K
$3.23 ฿105
-5.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 LBP 183.5K
$1.70 ฿55.3
20.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 LBP 90.9K
$2.39 ฿78.0
-57.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 LBP 175.6K
$2.08 ฿67.7
-5.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 LBP 90.7K
$1.59 ฿51.8
-36.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 LBP 87.0K
$1.48 ฿48.31
-34.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 LBP 90.9K
$1.03 ฿33.54
-0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 LBP 91.2K
$0.52 ฿16.83
96.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.25 ฿138
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.02 LBP 359.5K
$18.79 ฿612
-78.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 LBP 137.4K
$1.76 ฿57.2
-13.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 LBP 174.3K
$2.76 ฿89.8
-29.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 LBP 87.6K
$1.36 ฿44.32
-27.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14 ฿102
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 ฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$13.77 ฿448
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 LBP 81.5K
$1.34 ฿43.79
-32.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K LBP 2.1B
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-17.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K LBP 2.0B
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-33.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.2 LBP 8.9M
$124 ฿4,025
-19.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 LBP 2.0M
$13.52 ฿440
66.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19 LBP 2.3M
$18.69 ฿609
34.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.84 LBP 3.4M
$61.8 ฿2,013
-38.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.81 LBP 1.7M
$17.25 ฿562
9.04%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07 LBP 901.3K
$9.14 ฿298
10.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$402 LBP 36.0M
$703 ฿22.9K
-42.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,047 LBP 272.7M
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-80.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2 LBP 8.9M
$59.5 ฿1,937
66.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.9 LBP 8.9M
$35.07 ฿1,142
182.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 LBP 10.8M
$115 ฿3,754
4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 LBP 13.3M
$84.1 ฿2,737
76.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 LBP 27.0M
$619 ฿20.1K
-51.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 LBP 19.8M
$433 ฿14.1K
-48.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$809 LBP 72.4M
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-60.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 LBP 35.5M
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-73.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,352 LBP 121.0M
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-62.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$839 LBP 75.1M
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-68.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$991 LBP 88.7M
$507 ฿16.5K
95.47%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Byblos and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byblos pays 95% 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 $293 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Byblos or Phuket?
Byblos pays 95% 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: $302 in Byblos versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $402 in Byblos versus $703 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 $980 in Byblos versus $1,261 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 29% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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