😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,321 in Glenrothes versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,987 in Glenrothes versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,653 in Glenrothes versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Glenrothes is roughly 86% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Glenrothes is 74% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36£15.16
$4.55฿153
347.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7£48.15
$46.18฿1,553
40.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00£7.45
$8.84฿297
13.12%
Cappuccino
$3.42£2.55
$3.06฿103
11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13£1.58
$0.73฿24.40
191.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51£1.13
$0.40฿13.39
277.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.39£4.01
$2.43฿81.8
121.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67£3.48
$3.78฿127
23.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77£1.31
$2.26฿76.0
-21.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$1.81฿60.9
-9.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$2.25฿75.8
-16.89%
Eggs
$4.13£3.08
$2.25฿75.5
83.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.71£6.49
$19.51฿656
-55.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.79£8.78
$3.65฿123
223.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97£10.40
$13.05฿439
7.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07£2.28
$3.23฿109
-4.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$1.62฿54.4
-8.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77£2.07
$2.38฿80.1
16.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00£2.98
$2.03฿68.1
97.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14£0.85
$1.53฿51.6
-25.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35£1.00
$1.50฿50.5
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84£0.63
$0.98฿32.91
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85£0.63
$0.52฿17.39
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.95£14.11
$4.44฿149
326.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.02£8.20
$18.32฿616
-39.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.29
$1.86฿62.7
-6.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38£1.77
$2.68฿90.1
-11.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40£1.78
$1.41฿47.46
70.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.7£51.9
$11.70฿393
495.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.90£3.65
$3.11฿105
57.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38£1.03
$1.04฿35.06
32.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.25£26.24
$14.11฿474
149.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$1.31฿44.10
45.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K£24.1K
$27.8K฿935.4K
16.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K£29.5K
$33.2K฿1.1M
19.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$402£299
$122฿4,118
228.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98£17.85
$13.59฿457
76.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.62£30.24
$18.70฿629
117.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.25£35.92
$60.5฿2,034
-20.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.68£10.18
$16.98฿571
-19.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.59£6.40
$9.07฿305
-5.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,864£1,388
$706฿23.8K
163.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K£11.4K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-3.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.30£35.21
$58.6฿1,969
-19.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63£30.25
$35.36฿1,189
14.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7£71.3
$115฿3,883
-17.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120£89.3
$83.7฿2,816
43.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,224£911
$626฿21.0K
95.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990£737
$445฿15.0K
122.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004£1,492
$2,040฿68.6K
-1.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960£715
$1,492฿50.2K
-35.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,327£3,966
$3,483฿117.1K
52.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,577฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glenrothes
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,331£2,480
$500฿16.8K
566.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.2
5.33
16.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Glenrothes: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,224 in Glenrothes and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Glenrothes pays 566% 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: $65.0 in Glenrothes vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 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
Glenrothes vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Glenrothes?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Glenrothes or Phuket?
Average pay runs 566% higher in Glenrothes, 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 Glenrothes and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,224 in Glenrothes versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Glenrothes or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $65.0 in Glenrothes. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Glenrothes and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,321 per month in Glenrothes versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Glenrothes or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,321 in Glenrothes, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Glenrothes. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Glenrothes or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Glenrothes, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Glenrothes or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Glenrothes 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Glenrothes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Glenrothes vs other spots: cost of living compared