Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Derna and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Derna: $172 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Derna
🇱🇾 Libya
$172
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Derna 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 Derna and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $172 per month in Derna vs $1,208 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Derna $172
  • Phuket $1,208

A couple spends around $335 per month in Derna vs $2,027 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Derna $335
  • Phuket $2,027

A family of three spends $497 per month in Derna vs $2,845 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Derna $497
  • Phuket $2,845

Derna is about 86% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Derna and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Derna 87% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.80 LYD 24.32
$4.40 ฿147
-13.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.73 LYD 49.56
$32.26 ฿1,078
-76.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.20 LYD 20.50
$8.76 ฿293
-63.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.46 LYD 2.92
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 LYD 4.06
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.48 LYD 3.09
$2.83 ฿94.5
-83.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 LYD 2.08
$0.90 ฿30.14
-64.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.47 ฿15.56
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.55 ฿85.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.83 ฿128
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 LYD 4.77
$1.73 ฿57.7
-57.23%
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.47 ฿49.11
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 LYD 15.00
$1.51 ฿50.6
54.97%
Eggs
$0.89 LYD 5.71
$2.17 ฿72.7
-58.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$19.70 ฿658
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 LYD 19.74
$3.34 ฿112
-7.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.16 ฿373
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.85 ฿95.1
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 LYD 4.79
$1.70 ฿56.9
-55.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 LYD 6.02
$2.19 ฿73.3
-57.08%
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.05 ฿68.4
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.45 ฿48.57
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.38 ฿46.16
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.07 ฿35.69
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51 ฿16.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.26 ฿142
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.58 ฿621
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78 ฿59.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.85 ฿95.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Derna
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.26 ฿75.6
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.10 ฿738
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 LYD 5.24
$3.01 ฿101
-72.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.06 ฿35.34
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.86 ฿129
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.45 ฿48.45
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$96.4 ฿3,221
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.04 ฿369
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.18 LYD 90.9
$17.14 ฿573
-17.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.2 ฿1,744
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.16 ฿373
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.81 ฿261
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$556 ฿18.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.15 LYD 200
$64.2 ฿2,146
-51.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 LYD 244
$28.69 ฿959
32.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.50 LYD 247
$95.4 ฿3,187
-59.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.94 LYD 250
$88.0 ฿2,940
-55.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derna
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$737 ฿24.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$462 ฿15.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$157 LYD 1,009
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-92.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$94.3 LYD 604
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-92.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$191 LYD 1,224
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-94.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$76.9 LYD 493
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-96.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derna
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 LYD 1,084
$501 ฿16.7K
-66.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Derna: October 18, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Derna
–
Phuket
$462
Groceries & Markets
Derna
–
Phuket
$269
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derna
–
Phuket
$125
Clothing & Footwear
Derna
–
Phuket
$124
Eating Out
Derna
–
Phuket
$121
Sport & Entertainment
Derna
–
Phuket
$68
Getting Around
Derna
–
Phuket
$39

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 196% higher in Phuket, 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 $8.00 in Derna versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $44.00 vs $269 – making Derna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇱🇾 Derna
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:15 5:15 PM
22:15 10:15 PM
5 h ahead of Derna
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Libyan Dinar LYD ل.د
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to LYD – Libyan Dinar Converter

Libyan Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.41 LYD (1 LYD = 0.156 USD). 1 EUR = 7.2 LYD (1 LYD = 0.139 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Derna Phuket 8,200 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Derna
  • 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
Derna vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Derna or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 602% more than Derna, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Derna and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $258 per month in Derna and $1,813 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Derna compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $172 in Derna and $1,208 in Phuket. That's a gap of about 602%.
Are groceries more expensive in Derna or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 510% more in Phuket, 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 $1,000/month in Derna or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $172, than in Phuket at $1,208. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Derna or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $172 versus $1,208 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Derna 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Derna or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Derna. 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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