Cost of Living Comparison Between Geelong and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Geelong and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Geelong versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,084 in Geelong versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,800 in Geelong versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Geelong is roughly 87% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Geelong is 77% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.43 A$23.03
$4.70 ฿154
249.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.6 A$109
$45.37 ฿1,483
71.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 A$13.33
$8.43 ฿276
12.81%
Cappuccino
$3.26 A$4.57
$2.93 ฿95.7
11.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 A$3.64
$0.69 ฿22.42
276.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 A$3.04
$0.37 ฿12.00
486.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 A$8.57
$2.41 ฿78.7
153.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 A$6.86
$3.72 ฿122
31.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 A$2.04
$2.23 ฿73.0
-34.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 A$3.07
$1.83 ฿59.9
19.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 A$1.24
$2.17 ฿70.9
-59.45%
Eggs
$2.77 A$3.88
$2.21 ฿72.4
25.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.58 A$10.63
$19.74 ฿645
-61.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 A$13.30
$3.63 ฿119
161.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.77 A$20.70
$13.53 ฿442
9.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 A$4.02
$3.28 ฿107
-12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 A$3.90
$1.61 ฿52.7
72.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.07
$2.41 ฿78.7
20.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 A$3.20
$2.08 ฿68.1
9.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.43
$1.53 ฿49.97
60.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 A$2.87
$1.48 ฿48.41
38.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 A$2.17
$0.99 ฿32.32
56.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 A$2.32
$0.51 ฿16.68
223.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.34 A$43.92
$4.41 ฿144
610.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 A$19.32
$19.38 ฿634
-28.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57 A$5.00
$1.78 ฿58.1
100.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 A$4.22
$2.71 ฿88.7
11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.82 A$9.56
$1.37 ฿44.83
397.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$117 A$164
$11.39 ฿372
929.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 A$4.97
$3.02 ฿98.7
17.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 A$1.97
$0.99 ฿32.51
41.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.60 A$38.68
$14.10 ฿461
95.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.66
$1.36 ฿44.55
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$40.1K
$28.2K ฿921.9K
1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K A$32.3K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-29.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 A$196
$122 ฿3,978
14.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.80 A$29.14
$13.57 ฿444
53.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 A$70.9
$18.31 ฿599
176.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 A$73.8
$60.2 ฿1,969
-12.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 A$20.13
$17.14 ฿560
-16.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75 A$16.46
$8.69 ฿284
35.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,748 A$2,449
$693 ฿22.7K
152.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.4K A$27.2K
$15.7K ฿512.8K
23.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 A$94.3
$59.5 ฿1,946
13.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.01 A$61.7
$34.77 ฿1,137
26.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$142
$115 ฿3,746
-11.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 A$125
$83.3 ฿2,723
7.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,489 A$2,087
$613 ฿20.0K
142.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 A$1,731
$437 ฿14.3K
182.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 A$1,694
$2,094 ฿68.5K
-42.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 A$1,717
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-18.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,740 A$9,444
$3,749 ฿122.6K
79.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,423 A$7,598
$2,616 ฿85.5K
107.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geelong
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,163 A$4,432
$508 ฿16.6K
522.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
5.33
16.14%

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

Last update for Geelong: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,489 in Geelong and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Geelong pays 522% 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: $78.0 in Geelong vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $293 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
Geelong vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Geelong and Phuket?
Geelong and Phuket differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,265 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Geelong or Phuket?
Geelong pays 522% 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 do apartment prices compare in Geelong and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,489 in Geelong versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Geelong or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Geelong versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Geelong and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 929% less than in Geelong. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,367 in Geelong, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Geelong. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Geelong and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Geelong or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Geelong 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.
Where should expats move: Geelong or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Geelong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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