ðA single person spends $1,621 per month in Chartres vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,438 per month in Chartres vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,256 per month in Chartres vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
ðChartres costs about 28% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðChartres sits 21% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13âŽ14.61
$4.66āļŋ150
267.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0âŽ47.78
$46.44āļŋ1,496
20.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88âŽ9.28
$8.68āļŋ280
25.35%
Cappuccino
$3.15âŽ2.69
$2.95āļŋ95.0
6.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96âŽ2.53
$0.70āļŋ22.52
322.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94âŽ1.66
$0.39āļŋ12.70
397.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.39âŽ5.45
$2.53āļŋ81.6
152.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80âŽ4.95
$3.78āļŋ122
53.44%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13âŽ0.96
$2.22āļŋ71.5
-49.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75âŽ1.49
$1.80āļŋ57.8
-2.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34âŽ2.00
$2.19āļŋ70.4
6.85%
Eggs
$4.05âŽ3.46
$2.31āļŋ74.5
75.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.69âŽ19.35
$19.34āļŋ623
17.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.39âŽ11.42
$3.77āļŋ121
255.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.62âŽ15.03
$13.22āļŋ426
33.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77âŽ3.22
$3.33āļŋ107
13.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24âŽ1.91
$1.65āļŋ53.1
35.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38âŽ2.03
$2.29āļŋ73.7
3.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.19âŽ2.72
$1.99āļŋ64.1
60.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90âŽ1.62
$1.53āļŋ49.24
24.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18âŽ1.01
$1.51āļŋ48.77
-21.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13âŽ0.96
$1.03āļŋ33.12
9.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69âŽ0.59
$0.51āļŋ16.57
35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.50âŽ9.81
$4.41āļŋ142
160.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19âŽ6.13
$19.41āļŋ625
-62.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41âŽ2.06
$1.80āļŋ58.0
33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31âŽ3.68
$2.68āļŋ86.4
60.82%
ð Getting Around
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73âŽ1.47
$1.43āļŋ46.11
20.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.41âŽ42.15
$11.70āļŋ377
322.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53âŽ3.86
$3.04āļŋ97.9
49.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83âŽ1.56
$1.04āļŋ33.37
75.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.06âŽ27.34
$13.68āļŋ441
134.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06âŽ1.75
$1.30āļŋ41.85
58.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2KâŽ14.6K
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
-38.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1KâŽ21.4K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
-23.99%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197âŽ168
$123āļŋ3,962
60.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.77âŽ18.57
$13.82āļŋ445
57.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.83âŽ25.44
$18.86āļŋ608
58.17%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.10âŽ24.83
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-52.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.54âŽ15.81
$16.81āļŋ541
10.29%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26âŽ12.17
$8.87āļŋ286
60.77%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$573âŽ489
$696āļŋ22.4K
-17.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,508âŽ7,257
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
-47.02%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8âŽ75.7
$59.3āļŋ1,910
49.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.29âŽ31.81
$34.85āļŋ1,123
7.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.9âŽ71.6
$113āļŋ3,646
-25.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4âŽ84.0
$85.1āļŋ2,740
15.71%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781âŽ666
$615āļŋ19.8K
26.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$493âŽ421
$448āļŋ14.4K
9.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927âŽ791
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$803âŽ685
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
-46.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,281âŽ3,652
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
14.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,025âŽ2,580
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
13.65%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chartres
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.69
5.33
-30.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chartres: April 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Chartres versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Chartres versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $291 â making Phuket 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
Chartres vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chartres or Phuket?
Chartres costs about 28% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chartres vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,431 per month in Chartres and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chartres or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chartres and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $573 per month in Chartres and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chartres or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Chartres, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chartres or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Chartres at $1,621. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chartres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chartres or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $1,621 in Chartres. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chartres compared to 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chartres or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chartres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.