Cost of Living Comparison Between Cortona and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cortona and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,709 per month in Cortona vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,560 per month in Cortona vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,411 per month in Cortona vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Cortona costs about 35% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cortona sits 28% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.92 €12.09
$4.48 ฿150
210.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 €65.3
$45.59 ฿1,523
64.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.60 €10.08
$8.76 ฿292
32.42%
Cappuccino
$1.75 €1.52
$2.97 ฿99.1
-41.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.20
$0.69 ฿22.93
266.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 €1.10
$0.39 ฿13.05
223.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 €5.10
$2.53 ฿84.5
132.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 €4.41
$3.75 ฿125
35.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 €1.47
$2.15 ฿71.7
-21.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 €1.87
$1.82 ฿60.6
18.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 €2.70
$2.18 ฿73.0
42.66%
Eggs
$4.56 €3.96
$2.25 ฿75.1
102.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.35 €15.07
$20.00 ฿668
-13.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.93 €10.37
$3.63 ฿121
228.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.44 €17.76
$13.56 ฿453
50.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 €2.05
$3.24 ฿108
-27.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 €1.95
$1.64 ฿54.6
37.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$2.33 ฿77.9
-13.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 €2.32
$2.07 ฿69.2
28.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 €1.57
$1.55 ฿51.7
16.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$1.46 ฿48.60
26.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.09
$0.98 ฿32.89
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.48 ฿16.11
14.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.06
$4.35 ฿145
60.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.34 €8.99
$18.57 ฿620
-44.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.86 ฿62.0
-1.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.41
$2.65 ฿88.7
4.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.42 ฿47.33
23.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.78 €37.17
$11.57 ฿387
269.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.27 €4.58
$3.17 ฿106
66.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 €1.23
$1.03 ฿34.46
37.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.09 €29.62
$13.89 ฿464
145.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.34 ฿44.89
44.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K €25.0K
$27.8K ฿928.2K
3.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K €25.4K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
-12.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €190
$123 ฿4,110
78.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.80 €9.38
$13.77 ฿460
-21.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.54 €26.54
$18.33 ฿612
66.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 €47.89
$60.7 ฿2,027
-9.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.11 €20.08
$17.16 ฿573
34.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65 €10.12
$8.87 ฿296
31.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$288 €250
$688 ฿23.0K
-58.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,259
$15.8K ฿527.0K
-32.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 €65.1
$59.3 ฿1,981
26.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.38 €29.87
$34.69 ฿1,159
-0.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 €74.1
$115 ฿3,847
-25.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €107
$83.8 ฿2,798
46.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €663
$621 ฿20.8K
22.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 €510
$446 ฿14.9K
31.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,200 €1,043
$2,034 ฿67.9K
-40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$919 €798
$1,496 ฿50.0K
-38.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,360 €2,050
$3,455 ฿115.4K
-31.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,846 €2,472
$2,531 ฿84.5K
12.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cortona
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,224 €2,801
$494 ฿16.5K
553.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
5.33
-25.89%

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

Last update for Cortona: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Cortona versus $621 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 553% higher in Cortona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Cortona versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $291 – 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
Cortona vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cortona and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,709 in Cortona, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 35% apart. Cortona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cortona compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,564 per month in Cortona and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cortona and 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 commuting costs compare in Cortona and in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 270% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cortona and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Cortona and $688 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Cortona at $1,709. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cortona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cortona and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,264 in Phuket to $1,709 in Cortona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cortona 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 Cortona and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cortona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cortona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities