Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $901 per month in Calarasi vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,391 per month in Calarasi vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,881 per month in Calarasi vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Calarasi is about 28% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calarasi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 34% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.66 RON 34.63
$4.56 ฿150
67.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.04 RON 122
$32.62 ฿1,072
-17.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.11 RON 36.62
$8.90 ฿293
-8.88%
Cappuccino
$2.14 RON 9.69
$2.80 ฿92.2
-23.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RON 6.54
$0.88 ฿28.93
64.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RON 8.23
$0.49 ฿16.08
271.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 RON 4.84
$2.39 ฿78.5
-55.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 RON 6.82
$3.71 ฿122
-59.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 7.20
$1.79 ฿58.7
-11.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 RON 4.26
$1.44 ฿47.38
-34.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.30
$1.58 ฿52.1
2.53%
Eggs
$2.99 RON 13.53
$2.13 ฿69.9
40.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.38 RON 37.85
$19.92 ฿655
-57.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 RON 19.47
$3.43 ฿113
25.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.58 RON 38.76
$11.33 ฿372
-24.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 RON 5.16
$2.95 ฿96.9
-61.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 RON 6.69
$1.72 ฿56.6
-13.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 RON 5.95
$2.32 ฿76.4
-43.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 RON 7.13
$2.08 ฿68.4
-24.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 RON 1.89
$1.47 ฿48.33
-71.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 RON 2.91
$1.36 ฿44.64
-52.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 RON 2.04
$1.10 ฿36.12
-59.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 RON 3.69
$0.57 ฿18.89
43.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.73 RON 30.39
$4.27 ฿140
57.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.32 RON 19.50
$18.42 ฿605
-76.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 RON 4.67
$1.87 ฿61.5
-44.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 RON 6.82
$2.92 ฿96.0
-48.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 RON 2.04
$2.22 ฿72.9
-79.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.12 RON 59.3
$22.90 ฿753
-42.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 RON 3.04
$3.03 ฿99.6
-77.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 2.89
$1.07 ฿35.31
-40.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 RON 30.63
$3.93 ฿129
72.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 RON 7.93
$1.49 ฿49.04
18.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K RON 134.2K
$27.1K ฿891.7K
9.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K RON 120.4K
$27.5K ฿902.3K
-2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 RON 746
$103 ฿3,379
60.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.77 RON 30.56
$10.99 ฿361
-38.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.93 RON 31.29
$17.51 ฿576
-60.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.67 RON 224
$53.5 ฿1,760
-7.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.7 RON 251
$11.20 ฿368
396.88%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95 RON 40.43
$7.48 ฿246
19.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 RON 1,909
$557 ฿18.3K
-24.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,032 RON 27.3K
$11.9K ฿389.6K
-49.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.0 RON 344
$64.1 ฿2,106
18.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.21 RON 100
$29.07 ฿956
-23.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 RON 434
$96.0 ฿3,154
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 RON 449
$90.3 ฿2,970
9.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$330 RON 1,493
$730 ฿24.0K
-54.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$201 RON 909
$500 ฿16.4K
-59.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$448 RON 2,025
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-78.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$336 RON 1,519
$1,209 ฿39.7K
-72.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 RON 5,601
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-65.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$969 RON 4,378
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-61.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 RON 3,493
$503 ฿16.5K
53.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.85
5.57
40.93%

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

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Calarasi versus $730 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Calarasi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Calarasi versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $273 – 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
How do living costs in Calarasi and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $901 in Calarasi, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 39% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Calarasi compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,352 per month in Calarasi and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Calarasi and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Calarasi and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Calarasi and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Calarasi and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $901 in Calarasi to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Calarasi or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Calarasi and Phuket?
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.

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