Cost of Living Comparison Between George and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between George and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,078 in George versus $1,232 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,760 in George versus $2,255 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,441 in George versus $3,279 in Phuket.
πLiving in George costs roughly 12% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: George19% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
George
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.17RΒ 187
$4.63ΰΈΏ151
141.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.91RΒ 636
$46.84ΰΈΏ1,532
-19.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.12RΒ 85.8
$8.84ΰΈΏ289
-42.08%
Cappuccino
$1.93RΒ 32.44
$3.00ΰΈΏ98.0
-35.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52RΒ 25.52
$0.74ΰΈΏ24.25
105.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21RΒ 20.29
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.95
227.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53RΒ 42.50
$2.44ΰΈΏ79.8
3.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97RΒ 49.75
$3.61ΰΈΏ118
-17.73%
π Groceries & Markets
George
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10RΒ 18.48
$2.26ΰΈΏ73.9
-51.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10RΒ 18.51
$1.84ΰΈΏ60.1
-40.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60RΒ 26.82
$2.24ΰΈΏ73.4
-28.57%
Eggs
$2.99RΒ 50.1
$2.32ΰΈΏ75.7
28.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74RΒ 163
$19.67ΰΈΏ643
-50.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71RΒ 78.9
$3.65ΰΈΏ119
29.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.71RΒ 129
$13.10ΰΈΏ428
-41.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76RΒ 29.55
$3.39ΰΈΏ111
-48.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62RΒ 27.18
$1.64ΰΈΏ53.7
-1.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43RΒ 24.00
$2.41ΰΈΏ79.0
-40.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55RΒ 25.97
$2.03ΰΈΏ66.4
-23.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57RΒ 26.30
$1.56ΰΈΏ50.9
0.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77RΒ 29.71
$1.50ΰΈΏ48.94
18.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28RΒ 21.46
$1.02ΰΈΏ33.50
25.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94RΒ 15.83
$0.49ΰΈΏ16.00
91.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12RΒ 52.4
$4.45ΰΈΏ145
-29.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71RΒ 79.0
$18.88ΰΈΏ617
-75.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21RΒ 20.28
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-32.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61RΒ 26.94
$2.75ΰΈΏ90.1
-41.45%
π Getting Around
George
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77RΒ 12.90
$1.40ΰΈΏ45.81
-45.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.75RΒ 432
$11.48ΰΈΏ376
124.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14RΒ 19.06
$3.12ΰΈΏ102
-63.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88RΒ 14.83
$1.00ΰΈΏ32.67
-12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.07RΒ 68.3
$14.09ΰΈΏ461
-71.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17RΒ 19.69
$1.35ΰΈΏ44.19
-13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KRΒ 350.9K
$27.2KΰΈΏ888.9K
-23.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KRΒ 344.5K
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-37.61%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
George
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129RΒ 2,161
$125ΰΈΏ4,087
3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95RΒ 268
$13.57ΰΈΏ444
17.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4RΒ 878
$18.52ΰΈΏ606
182.83%
π Sport & Entertainment
George
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.18RΒ 456
$61.5ΰΈΏ2,010
-55.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.30RΒ 190
$16.84ΰΈΏ551
-32.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73RΒ 96.1
$9.19ΰΈΏ300
-37.65%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
George
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125RΒ 2,097
$698ΰΈΏ22.8K
-82.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,785RΒ 80.3K
$15.6KΰΈΏ509.9K
-69.31%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
George
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.5RΒ 1,216
$57.8ΰΈΏ1,889
25.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91RΒ 535
$35.24ΰΈΏ1,152
-9.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3RΒ 1,649
$113ΰΈΏ3,699
-13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.3RΒ 1,480
$86.4ΰΈΏ2,825
2.18%
π Accommodation & Living
George
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390RΒ 6,537
$616ΰΈΏ20.1K
-36.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332RΒ 5,564
$446ΰΈΏ14.6K
-25.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$721RΒ 12.1K
$2,048ΰΈΏ67.0K
-64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$784RΒ 13.2K
$1,492ΰΈΏ48.8K
-47.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$720RΒ 12.1K
$3,779ΰΈΏ123.6K
-80.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$542RΒ 9,093
$2,649ΰΈΏ86.6K
-79.53%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
George
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,327RΒ 22.3K
$524ΰΈΏ17.1K
153.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.88
5.33
104.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for George: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in George and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°George pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $38.00 in George vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $292 per month, with George 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
George vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than George?
George is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: George or Phuket?
George pays 153% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between George and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $390 in George versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in George or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in George β a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in George vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,078 per month in George versus $1,232 in Phuket β a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for George or Phuket?
At $1,078 in George versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in George but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes George the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is George or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, George is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, George or Phuket?
Safety-wise, George 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find George gentler on the wallet β expenses run 14% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.