Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Courtenay and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,184 in Courtenay, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Courtenay, Canada
Phuket, Thailand
Courtenay
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,184
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Courtenay and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Courtenay and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Courtenay vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Courtenay $2,184
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $3,080 per month in Courtenay vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Courtenay $3,080
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $3,975 per month in Courtenay vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Courtenay $3,975
  • Phuket $3,154

Courtenay costs about 71% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Courtenay sits 60% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.38 CA$20.09
$4.47 ฿151
221.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 CA$79.9
$32.41 ฿1,094
76.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 CA$13.64
$8.81 ฿297
10.78%
Cappuccino
$3.68 CA$5.14
$2.83 ฿95.4
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.85
$0.87 ฿29.42
134.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.17
$0.49 ฿16.66
216.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.79 CA$8.09
$2.56 ฿86.3
126.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CA$8.02
$3.68 ฿124
55.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.41 CA$3.37
$1.66 ฿56.0
45.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 CA$2.87
$1.46 ฿49.32
40.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 CA$2.91
$1.50 ฿50.5
38.67%
Eggs
$3.20 CA$4.47
$2.09 ฿70.5
53.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 CA$14.20
$19.07 ฿643
-46.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.20 CA$12.85
$3.30 ฿111
178.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.79 CA$27.64
$10.91 ฿368
81.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 CA$4.61
$2.93 ฿98.9
12.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 CA$1.83
$1.69 ฿57.0
-22.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 CA$3.28
$2.25 ฿75.8
4.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.29
$2.08 ฿70.1
47.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.71
$1.51 ฿51.0
75.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 CA$3.00
$1.38 ฿46.54
55.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 CA$2.89
$1.07 ฿35.97
93.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.29
$0.52 ฿17.51
215.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.20 CA$19.84
$4.20 ฿142
238.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.89 CA$15.22
$18.79 ฿634
-42.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 CA$3.62
$1.82 ฿61.5
42.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 CA$3.40
$2.84 ฿95.9
-14.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 CA$2.71
$1.45 ฿49.00
33.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.49 CA$59.4
$56.7 ฿1,912
-25.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 CA$3.84
$3.02 ฿102
-8.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 CA$1.96
$1.02 ฿34.34
37.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.82 CA$24.89
$3.69 ฿125
382.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 CA$1.78
$1.47 ฿49.78
-12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.1K
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-22.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K CA$25.5K
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-31.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 CA$194
$96.4 ฿3,252
44.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.71 CA$51.3
$11.26 ฿380
226.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3 CA$91.3
$16.85 ฿569
287.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.38 CA$59.2
$67.2 ฿2,269
-36.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.49 CA$53.8
$10.73 ฿362
258.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.78 CA$15.06
$7.50 ฿253
43.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$648 CA$906
$476 ฿16.1K
36.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K CA$17.2K
$11.3K ฿380.1K
9.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 CA$79.5
$62.4 ฿2,105
-8.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.43 CA$63.5
$28.41 ฿959
59.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 CA$110
$94.3 ฿3,182
-16.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.8 CA$83.5
$85.8 ฿2,896
-30.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 CA$1,703
$716 ฿24.2K
70.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 CA$1,588
$491 ฿16.6K
131.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,043 CA$2,854
$1,927 ฿65.0K
6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 CA$2,277
$1,431 ฿48.3K
13.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,318 CA$7,429
$4,175 ฿140.9K
27.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Courtenay
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,239 CA$4,525
$502 ฿17.0K
544.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
5.57
-12.57%

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

Last update for Courtenay: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Courtenay
$1.1K
Phuket
$491 56.8% $646
Groceries & Markets
Courtenay
$331
Phuket
$266 19.5% $64
Eating Out
Courtenay
$243
Phuket
$122 50% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Courtenay
$241
Phuket
$124 48.3% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Courtenay
$108
Phuket
$122 12.6% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Courtenay
$64
Phuket
$82 28.6% $18
Getting Around
Courtenay
$60
Phuket
$71 17.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,219 in Courtenay versus $716 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 in Courtenay are about 6.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Courtenay versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 vs $266 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Courtenay
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
19:33 7:33 PM
09:33 9:33 AM
14 h ahead of Courtenay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,599
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Courtenay Phuket 12,360 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Courtenay
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Courtenay vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Courtenay?
Yes – Courtenay is pricier by about 71%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,276 per month in Courtenay and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,219 in Courtenay.
How do food prices compare in Courtenay and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Courtenay, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Courtenay or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Courtenay and $32 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 Courtenay or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Courtenay at $2,184. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Courtenay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Courtenay or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Courtenay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Courtenay vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?