🙂A single person spends $988 per month in Calarasi vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,476 per month in Calarasi vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,965 per month in Calarasi vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Calarasi is about 21% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Calarasi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi26% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83RON 45.08
$4.55฿153
116.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.88RON 128
$46.18฿1,554
-39.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98RON 36.58
$8.84฿298
-9.73%
Cappuccino
$2.69RON 12.34
$3.06฿103
-12.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53RON 7.01
$0.73฿24.42
109.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RON 8.23
$0.40฿13.40
347.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28RON 10.45
$2.43฿81.8
-6.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38RON 15.51
$3.78฿127
-10.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36RON 6.23
$2.26฿76.0
-39.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10RON 5.03
$1.81฿60.9
-39.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69RON 7.74
$2.25฿75.8
-24.89%
Eggs
$3.25RON 14.92
$2.25฿75.6
44.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56RON 39.28
$19.51฿656
-56.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.94RON 31.81
$3.65฿123
90.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.17RON 42.04
$13.05฿439
-29.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.40
$3.23฿109
-63.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46RON 6.70
$1.62฿54.4
-9.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33RON 6.11
$2.38฿80.2
-44.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98RON 9.10
$2.03฿68.2
-2.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80RON 3.68
$1.53฿51.6
-47.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.37
$1.50฿50.5
-36.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.25
$0.98฿32.93
-27.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RON 3.69
$0.52฿17.40
53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69RON 26.08
$4.44฿149
28.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.32RON 19.82
$18.32฿616
-76.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RON 4.10
$1.86฿62.7
-52.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37RON 6.28
$2.68฿90.2
-48.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44RON 2.04
$1.41฿47.49
-68.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.57RON 62.2
$11.70฿394
15.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.26
$3.11฿105
-77.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.94
$1.04฿35.08
-38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81RON 26.64
$14.11฿475
-58.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.32
$1.31฿44.13
22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRON 113.3K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-11.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRON 123.3K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-19.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148RON 680
$122฿4,120
21.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.24RON 37.77
$13.59฿457
-39.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.53RON 34.54
$18.70฿629
-59.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.8RON 320
$60.5฿2,035
15.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92RON 86.8
$16.98฿572
11.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.01RON 27.58
$9.07฿305
-33.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$434RON 1,989
$706฿23.8K
-38.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,908RON 31.7K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-56.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5RON 378
$58.6฿1,970
40.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.72RON 196
$35.36฿1,190
20.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5RON 346
$115฿3,885
-34.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8RON 458
$83.7฿2,818
19.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383RON 1,754
$626฿21.1K
-38.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231RON 1,058
$445฿15.0K
-48.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579RON 2,656
$2,040฿68.7K
-71.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364RON 1,671
$1,492฿50.2K
-75.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240RON 5,688
$3,483฿117.2K
-64.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$984RON 4,514
$2,577฿86.7K
-61.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$741RON 3,396
$500฿16.8K
48.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
5.33
24.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calarasi: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Calarasi versus $626 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 48% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $289 – 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: $988 in Calarasi, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 27% 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 $1,481 per month in Calarasi and $1,875 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 $434 per month in Calarasi and $706 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 48% 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 $988, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $988 in Calarasi to $1,250 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.