Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $875 in Green Island versus $1,247 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,445 in Green Island versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,014 in Green Island versus $3,306 in Phuket.

Living in Green Island costs roughly 30% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Green Island 35% lower, Phuket 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 JMD 1,211
$4.59 ฿147
66.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1 JMD 9,978
$46.83 ฿1,500
34.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 JMD 1,409
$8.70 ฿279
2.30%
Cappuccino
$4.45 JMD 704
$2.92 ฿93.7
52.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 JMD 217
$0.68 ฿21.90
101.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 JMD 118
$0.40 ฿12.69
87.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 JMD 394
$2.51 ฿80.3
-0.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 JMD 499
$3.80 ฿122
-17.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.43 JMD 701
$2.16 ฿69.2
105.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.64 JMD 577
$1.88 ฿60.3
93.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 JMD 256
$2.16 ฿69.1
-25.00%
Eggs
$3.44 JMD 544
$2.22 ฿71.1
54.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 JMD 1,764
$19.57 ฿627
-43.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 JMD 1,021
$3.80 ฿122
69.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 JMD 1,191
$13.41 ฿430
-43.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 JMD 959
$3.26 ฿104
85.89%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 JMD 482
$1.61 ฿51.6
89.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 JMD 678
$2.31 ฿73.9
85.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 JMD 466
$2.06 ฿65.9
43.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 JMD 321
$1.61 ฿51.4
26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 JMD 308
$1.44 ฿46.23
35.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.06 JMD 485
$1.03 ฿32.99
197.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 JMD 228
$0.48 ฿15.38
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.55 JMD 1,354
$4.50 ฿144
90.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.58 JMD 1,833
$19.18 ฿614
-39.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 JMD 438
$1.82 ฿58.4
52.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 JMD 481
$2.69 ฿86.2
13.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.38 ฿44.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.76 ฿377
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 JMD 172
$3.11 ฿99.5
-64.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 JMD 515
$1.00 ฿32.16
225.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 JMD 966
$13.74 ฿440
-55.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 JMD 197
$1.30 ฿41.58
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6K JMD 6.7M
$27.4K ฿876.5K
55.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K JMD 5.4M
$33.0K ฿1.1M
3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 JMD 26.0K
$125 ฿4,001
31.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 JMD 3,558
$13.74 ฿440
63.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 JMD 7,947
$18.61 ฿596
169.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.6 ฿1,940
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.15 ฿549
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.13 JMD 2,078
$9.01 ฿289
45.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 JMD 36.2K
$698 ฿22.4K
-67.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,498 JMD 395.4K
$16.1K ฿516.2K
-84.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.89 JMD 4,097
$59.2 ฿1,897
-56.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.22 JMD 3,992
$34.86 ฿1,117
-27.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 JMD 11.4K
$114 ฿3,659
-36.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7 JMD 11.8K
$85.8 ฿2,749
-12.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$619 ฿19.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$437 ฿14.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,075 ฿66.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,509 ฿48.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,764 ฿120.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,694 ฿86.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Green Island
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$528 ฿16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5.33
71.67%

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

Last update for Green Island: April 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Green Island and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63 in Green Island vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $292 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
Green Island vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Green Island and Phuket?
Green Island and Phuket differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $1,247 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Green Island compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,313 in Green Island and $1,870 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Green Island or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $875 per month in Green Island versus $1,247 in Phuket – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $875 in Green Island versus $1,247 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Green Island but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Green Island the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Green Island 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 Green Island or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Green Island 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: Green Island or Phuket?
Expats usually find Green Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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