Cost of Living Comparison Between Guarda and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Guarda and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,571 per month in Guarda vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Guarda vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Guarda vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Guarda costs about 28% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guarda sits 17% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.31 €8.81
$4.63 ฿151
122.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 €50.2
$46.84 ฿1,523
25.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.18 €7.84
$8.84 ฿287
3.85%
Cappuccino
$1.98 €1.69
$3.00 ฿97.4
-34.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.59
$0.74 ฿24.11
151.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$0.37 ฿11.88
202.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.16 €2.70
$2.44 ฿79.3
29.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €2.91
$3.61 ฿117
-5.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 €0.87
$2.26 ฿73.5
-54.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 €1.31
$1.84 ฿59.8
-16.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 €1.35
$2.24 ฿73.0
-29.46%
Eggs
$3.19 €2.72
$2.32 ฿75.3
37.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 €8.52
$19.67 ฿639
-49.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.20 €7.00
$3.65 ฿119
124.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.54 €11.57
$13.10 ฿426
3.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 €1.77
$3.39 ฿110
-38.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 €1.18
$1.64 ฿53.4
-15.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 €1.54
$2.41 ฿78.5
-24.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.53
$2.03 ฿66.0
45.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 €1.48
$1.56 ฿50.6
10.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 €1.62
$1.50 ฿48.66
26.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 €1.04
$1.02 ฿33.30
19.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.79
$0.49 ฿15.91
89.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.64
$4.45 ฿145
48.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.65 €3.97
$18.88 ฿614
-75.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 €1.07
$1.78 ฿57.7
-29.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 €1.89
$2.75 ฿89.5
-19.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €1.98
$1.40 ฿45.54
65.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.89 €36.63
$11.48 ฿373
273.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.64
$3.12 ฿101
36.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 €1.41
$1.00 ฿32.48
65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.19 €14.68
$14.09 ฿458
22.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.64
$1.35 ฿43.93
42.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K €31.4K
$27.2K ฿883.7K
35.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K €34.0K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
20.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 €118
$125 ฿4,063
10.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.05 €14.56
$13.57 ฿441
25.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.08 €39.35
$18.52 ฿602
148.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.36 €37.88
$61.5 ฿1,999
-27.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84 ฿547
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.10 €6.07
$9.19 ฿299
-22.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$350 €299
$698 ฿22.7K
-49.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K €8,916
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-33.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.17 €29.18
$57.8 ฿1,878
-40.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.87 €32.34
$35.24 ฿1,146
7.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 €73.5
$113 ฿3,677
-23.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 €84.9
$86.4 ฿2,808
15.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$937 €800
$616 ฿20.0K
52.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 €623
$446 ฿14.5K
63.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,443 €1,232
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-29.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 €1,000
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-21.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,059 €2,613
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-19.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,358 €2,014
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-10.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guarda
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$524 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
5.33
-3.38%

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

Last update for Guarda: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $937 in Guarda versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Guarda versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Guarda vs $292 in Phuket – so Guarda wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Guarda vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guarda or Phuket?
Guarda costs about 28% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Guarda vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,357 per month in Guarda and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Guarda or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Guarda vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Guarda and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Guarda compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,571 in Guarda and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Guarda or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Guarda at $1,571. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guarda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guarda or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,571 in Guarda. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Guarda compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Guarda or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guarda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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