Cost of Living Comparison Between George and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between George and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,158 in George versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,912 in George versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,666 in George versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in George costs roughly 6% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: George 15% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
George
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.06 R 181
$4.41 ฿147
150.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.60 R 714
$32.26 ฿1,077
35.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 R 83.7
$8.93 ฿298
-42.78%
Cappuccino
$2.19 R 35.84
$2.90 ฿96.6
-24.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 R 17.09
$0.88 ฿29.38
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 R 12.53
$0.48 ฿16.06
60.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 R 46.51
$2.35 ฿78.5
20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 R 54.5
$3.72 ฿124
-10.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
George
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 R 18.92
$1.87 ฿62.3
-37.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 R 17.86
$1.47 ฿48.94
-25.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.73
$1.55 ฿51.8
-2.58%
Eggs
$2.77 R 45.31
$2.10 ฿70.1
31.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.72 R 143
$19.59 ฿654
-55.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 R 92.3
$3.42 ฿114
64.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.71 R 110
$11.38 ฿380
-41.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 R 27.60
$2.98 ฿99.6
-43.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 R 25.87
$1.68 ฿56.2
-5.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 R 25.91
$2.21 ฿73.7
-28.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.21
$2.16 ฿72.1
-23.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 R 27.67
$1.52 ฿50.9
11.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 R 24.26
$1.34 ฿44.67
10.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 R 22.09
$1.13 ฿37.67
19.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 R 16.83
$0.55 ฿18.24
87.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26 R 53.4
$4.26 ฿142
-23.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.93 R 80.8
$19.09 ฿637
-74.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 R 21.62
$1.78 ฿59.4
-25.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 R 29.49
$2.78 ฿92.9
-35.25%
🚌 Getting Around
George
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 R 24.96
$2.23 ฿74.4
-31.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 R 467
$22.74 ฿759
25.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 R 10.82
$3.03 ฿101
-78.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 R 8.45
$1.02 ฿34.15
-49.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.79 R 144
$3.89 ฿130
125.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 R 20.86
$1.49 ฿49.77
-14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K R 510.2K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
17.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K R 485.9K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
9.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
George
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 R 2,050
$102 ฿3,420
22.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.37 R 301
$11.33 ฿378
62.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.20 R 757
$17.40 ฿581
165.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
George
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.19 R 511
$52.1 ฿1,738
-40.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.56 R 206
$11.07 ฿370
13.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12 R 100
$7.69 ฿257
-20.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
George
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 R 2,337
$561 ฿18.7K
-74.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,417 R 88.7K
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-52.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
George
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9 R 1,210
$63.0 ฿2,104
17.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.03 R 639
$29.52 ฿986
32.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 R 1,850
$98.0 ฿3,272
15.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8 R 1,454
$88.5 ฿2,954
0.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
George
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,236
$738 ฿24.6K
-40.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 R 6,180
$482 ฿16.1K
-21.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 R 13.1K
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$949 R 15.5K
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-22.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$889 R 14.6K
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-75.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 R 11.2K
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-73.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
George
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,387 R 22.7K
$494 ฿16.5K
181.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
5.57
96.05%

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

Last update for George: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in George and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in George vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $274, with George 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
George vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than George?
George is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: George or Phuket?
Average pay runs 181% higher in George, 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: $442 in George versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in George or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in George – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in George and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,158 per month in George versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in George or in Phuket?
At $1,158 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 – expenses run 6% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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