Cost of Living Comparison Between English Harbour and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between English Harbour and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,653 per month in English Harbour vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,966 per month in English Harbour vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,278 per month in English Harbour vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

English Harbour costs about 110% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

English Harbour sits 98% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.19 EC$30.22

$4.70 ฿153

138.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 EC$305

$45.37 ฿1,482

148.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 EC$23.16

$8.43 ฿275

1.78%

Cappuccino

$4.79 EC$12.92

$2.93 ฿95.6

63.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 EC$6.11

$0.69 ฿22.40

227.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 EC$2.92

$0.37 ฿11.99

191.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 EC$9.77

$3.72 ฿122

-2.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 EC$6.43

$2.23 ฿72.9

6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 EC$7.16

$1.83 ฿59.8

44.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 EC$3.93

$2.17 ฿70.8

-32.72%

Eggs

$3.78 EC$10.21

$2.21 ฿72.3

71.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$4.14 EC$11.18

$1.61 ฿52.6

157.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 EC$5.92

$0.99 ฿32.29

121.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 EC$4.05

$0.51 ฿16.67

194.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.49 EC$14.81

$1.78 ฿58.1

208.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 EC$3.69

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,971 EC$8,023

$613 ฿20.0K

384.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 EC$6,416

$437 ฿14.3K

443.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,456 EC$9,330

$2,094 ฿68.4K

65.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,017 EC$16.2K

$3,749 ฿122.5K

60.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for English Harbour: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,971 in English Harbour versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 in English Harbour versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in English Harbour vs $293 in Phuket – so English Harbour wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

English Harbour vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

English Harbour costs about 110% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,980 per month in English Harbour and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,653 in English Harbour and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 95% cheaper in English Harbour – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in English Harbour at $2,653. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in English Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $2,653 in English Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, English Harbour makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.