😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,679 in Famagusta versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,400 in Famagusta versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,121 in Famagusta versus $3,279 in Phuket.
😐Living in Famagusta is roughly 36% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Famagusta is 25% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41€14.90
$4.63฿151
276.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.2
$46.84฿1,532
47.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65€7.41
$8.84฿289
-2.15%
Cappuccino
$3.77€3.23
$3.00฿98.0
25.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$0.74฿24.25
59.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.15
$0.37฿11.95
262.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.75€3.21
$2.44฿79.8
53.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37€3.74
$3.61฿118
21.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75€1.49
$2.26฿73.9
-22.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.50
$1.84฿60.1
-4.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36€2.02
$2.24฿73.4
5.36%
Eggs
$4.74€4.06
$2.32฿75.7
104.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40€8.90
$19.67฿643
-47.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.18€7.86
$3.65฿119
151.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.13€12.10
$13.10฿428
7.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78€2.38
$3.39฿111
-17.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86€1.59
$1.64฿53.7
13.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34€2.01
$2.41฿79.0
-2.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38€2.89
$2.03฿66.4
66.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$1.56฿50.9
-12.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12€0.96
$1.50฿48.94
-25.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91€0.78
$1.02฿33.50
-10.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.76
$0.49฿16.00
81.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75€4.93
$4.45฿145
29.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.84€5.85
$18.88฿617
-63.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.57
$1.78฿58.1
2.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.05
$2.75฿90.1
-12.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59€0.51
$1.40฿45.81
-57.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.80€10.10
$11.48฿376
2.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.85€5.01
$3.12฿102
87.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03€1.73
$1.00฿32.67
103.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.06€18.03
$14.09฿461
49.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.34
$1.35฿44.19
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.3K
$27.2K฿888.9K
0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K€20.5K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-27.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€165
$125฿4,087
53.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.75€20.33
$13.57฿444
75.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.31€33.65
$18.52฿606
112.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.85€40.10
$61.5฿2,010
-23.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.40€14.89
$16.84฿551
3.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65€9.98
$9.19฿300
26.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453€388
$698฿22.8K
-35.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,041€2,603
$15.6K฿509.9K
-80.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6€45.06
$57.8฿1,889
-8.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$35.24฿1,152
16.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.3
$113฿3,699
-2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€89.9
$86.4฿2,825
21.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671€575
$616฿20.1K
8.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652€558
$446฿14.6K
46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984€842
$2,048฿67.0K
-51.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816€698
$1,492฿48.8K
-45.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,829€3,277
$3,779฿123.6K
1.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,444€2,092
$2,649฿86.6K
-7.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$946€810
$524฿17.1K
80.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
5.33
-18.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Famagusta: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $671 in Famagusta and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Famagusta pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Famagusta vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $292, with Famagusta cheaper for home cooking.
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
Famagusta vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Famagusta or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Famagusta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Famagusta or Phuket?
Famagusta pays 81% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Famagusta vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $671 in Famagusta versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Famagusta vs Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 3% less than in Famagusta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Famagusta and Phuket?
Childcare runs $453 in Famagusta versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Famagusta or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,679 in Famagusta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Famagusta. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Famagusta or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Famagusta compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Famagusta and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Famagusta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.