😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,071 in Fort-de-france versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,297 in Fort-de-france versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,524 in Fort-de-france versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Fort-de-france is roughly 66% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fort-de-france is 55% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.43€20.50
$4.55฿153
414.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.2€72.8
$46.18฿1,554
80.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.14€12.37
$8.84฿298
59.95%
Cappuccino
$5.34€4.67
$3.06฿103
74.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.20
$0.73฿24.42
401.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$0.40฿13.40
875.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.50€6.56
$2.43฿81.8
208.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27€4.61
$3.78฿127
39.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$2.26฿76.0
-19.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.48
$1.81฿60.9
-6.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.60€3.15
$2.25฿75.8
60.00%
Eggs
$3.65€3.20
$2.25฿75.6
62.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.89€17.40
$19.51฿656
1.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.31€16.02
$3.65฿123
401.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.12€18.48
$13.05฿439
61.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85€3.37
$3.23฿109
19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42€1.24
$1.62฿54.4
-12.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07€2.68
$2.38฿80.2
28.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.74€5.90
$2.03฿68.2
232.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36€2.06
$1.53฿51.6
54.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35€2.06
$1.50฿50.5
56.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.19
$0.98฿32.93
38.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.69
$0.52฿17.40
51.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.38€10.83
$4.44฿149
178.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.79€7.69
$18.32฿616
-52.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.86฿62.7
-6.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.44
$2.68฿90.2
4.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73€1.51
$1.41฿47.49
22.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.9€45.39
$11.70฿394
343.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.93
$3.11฿105
44.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92€1.68
$1.04฿35.08
84.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.28€37.86
$14.11฿475
206.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.91
$1.31฿44.13
67.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K€22.1K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-8.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K€30.3K
$33.2K฿1.1M
4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163€143
$122฿4,120
33.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.38€9.96
$13.59฿457
-16.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.03€35.02
$18.70฿629
114.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.17€30.77
$60.5฿2,035
-41.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62€16.29
$16.98฿572
9.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.78€9.43
$9.07฿305
18.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294€257
$706฿23.8K
-58.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,579€2,257
$15.8K฿531.8K
-83.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116€101
$58.6฿1,970
97.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.04€25.41
$35.36฿1,190
-17.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158€138
$115฿3,885
36.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$218€191
$83.7฿2,818
160.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$832€728
$626฿21.1K
33.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$743€650
$445฿15.0K
66.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,292€1,130
$2,040฿68.7K
-36.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,428€1,249
$1,492฿50.2K
-4.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,328€2,037
$3,483฿117.2K
-33.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,776€2,429
$2,577฿86.7K
7.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort-de-france
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,270€1,986
$500฿16.8K
354.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.45
5.33
-72.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort-de-france: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $832 in Fort-de-france and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort-de-france pays 354% 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: $83.0 in Fort-de-france vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $289 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
Fort-de-france vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort-de-france or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Fort-de-france. 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 Fort-de-france or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 354% higher in Fort-de-france, 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 Fort-de-france compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $832 in Fort-de-france versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fort-de-france or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Fort-de-france. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Fort-de-france and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $83.0 in Fort-de-france. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fort-de-france or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,071 in Fort-de-france, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Fort-de-france. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort-de-france or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort-de-france compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Fort-de-france 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 66% less than in Fort-de-france. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fort-de-france vs other spots: cost of living compared