🙂A single person spends $371 per month in Calarasi vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $612 per month in Calarasi vs $2,078 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $852 per month in Calarasi vs $2,896 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Calarasi is about 71% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Calarasi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi73% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MDL 201
$4.43฿145
167.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.90MDL 389
$35.07฿1,151
-34.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.11MDL 121
$8.96฿294
-20.65%
Cappuccino
$1.44MDL 24.40
$3.00฿98.4
-52.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MDL 13.25
$0.77฿25.33
1.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MDL 7.72
$0.47฿15.44
-4.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18MDL 20.03
$2.40฿78.6
-50.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MDL 25.42
$3.75฿123
-60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04MDL 17.65
$1.82฿59.8
-42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34MDL 5.71
$1.42฿46.65
-76.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.55฿50.8
-
Eggs
$2.05MDL 34.80
$2.13฿69.9
-3.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.76฿648
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.48฿114
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.09฿364
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.91฿95.5
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MDL 34.17
$1.66฿54.6
21.08%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.27฿74.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.10฿68.8
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.70MDL 11.87
$1.47฿48.24
-52.38%
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.41฿46.29
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.09฿35.78
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MDL 9.68
$0.54฿17.58
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.48฿147
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.72฿614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.84฿60.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.95฿96.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.26฿74.1
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.07฿757
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18MDL 20.06
$3.04฿99.9
-61.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.09฿35.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.82฿125
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64MDL 27.91
$1.49฿48.79
10.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.4K฿900.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KMDL 363.6K
$27.5K฿902.7K
-22.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.1MDL 1,054
$102฿3,340
-39.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.93MDL 118
$11.28฿370
-38.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.65MDL 181
$17.75฿582
-40.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$54.2฿1,777
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.96฿360
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.44MDL 58.5
$7.85฿258
-56.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$577฿18.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.6K฿381.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.28MDL 599
$65.4฿2,144
-46.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.08MDL 596
$28.89฿948
21.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MDL 1,847
$99.1฿3,250
9.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.47MDL 602
$90.3฿2,961
-60.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$756฿24.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$487฿16.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,085฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,207฿39.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,591฿117.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,610฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$502฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calarasi: August 18, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Calarasi versus $35.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $43.00 vs $272 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Calarasi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Calarasi?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 240%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $557 per month in Calarasi and $1,891 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Calarasi and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 533% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Calarasi or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Calarasi and $35.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Calarasi or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $371, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Calarasi or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calarasi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Calarasi or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.