😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,696 in Famagusta versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,418 in Famagusta versus $2,054 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,141 in Famagusta versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Famagusta is roughly 38% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Famagusta is 24% above, Phuket is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.06€14.87
$4.41฿147
286.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7€51.1
$32.26฿1,077
81.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29€8.10
$8.93฿298
4.03%
Cappuccino
$3.75€3.27
$2.90฿96.6
29.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.03
$0.88฿29.38
35.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.06
$0.48฿16.06
152.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.23€3.69
$2.35฿78.5
80.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01€3.49
$3.72฿124
7.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$1.87฿62.3
10.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.28
$1.47฿48.94
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.55฿51.8
43.87%
Eggs
$4.80€4.19
$2.10฿70.1
128.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.75€8.50
$19.59฿654
-50.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.10€7.93
$3.42฿114
166.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.72€11.09
$11.38฿380
11.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27€2.85
$2.98฿99.6
9.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90€1.65
$1.68฿56.2
13.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.89
$2.21฿73.7
-1.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.00€2.61
$2.16฿72.1
38.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50€1.30
$1.52฿50.9
-1.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$1.34฿44.67
-11.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62€0.54
$1.13฿37.67
-45.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.93
$0.55฿18.24
94.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76€5.02
$4.26฿142
35.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.73€5.86
$19.09฿637
-64.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.55
$1.78฿59.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.85
$2.78฿92.9
-23.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.20€1.91
$2.23฿74.4
-1.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.4€45.65
$22.74฿759
130.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.84€5.09
$3.03฿101
92.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21€1.93
$1.02฿34.15
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.39€20.39
$3.89฿130
501.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$1.49฿49.77
21.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.7K
$26.6K฿887.3K
2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K€20.7K
$27.0K฿902.2K
-12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173€151
$102฿3,420
69.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.91€19.97
$11.33฿378
102.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.94€30.46
$17.40฿581
100.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.29€40.35
$52.1฿1,738
-11.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.50€15.26
$11.07฿370
58.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.53€10.05
$7.69฿257
49.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$448€390
$561฿18.7K
-20.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,978€2,596
$11.5K฿384.1K
-74.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9€46.15
$63.0฿2,104
-16.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.29€29.89
$29.52฿986
16.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8€84.3
$98.0฿3,272
-1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4€78.8
$88.5฿2,954
2.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689€600
$738฿24.6K
-6.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$637€555
$482฿16.1K
32.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981€855
$2,107฿70.3K
-53.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€715
$1,226฿40.9K
-33.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,831€3,339
$3,617฿120.7K
5.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,367€2,064
$2,603฿86.9K
-9.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Famagusta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$943€822
$494฿16.5K
91.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
5.57
-40.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Famagusta: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $689 in Famagusta and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Famagusta pays 91% 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: $59.0 in Famagusta vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $274 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 38% 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 in Phuket?
Average pay runs 91% higher in Famagusta, 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 compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $689 in Famagusta versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Famagusta compared to Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 130% 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 in Phuket?
Childcare runs $448 in Famagusta versus $561 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 in Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,696 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 38% less than in Famagusta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.