🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Gyeonggi versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Gyeonggi versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,032 in Gyeonggi versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Gyeonggi costs roughly 17% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gyeonggi25% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.44₩10.1K
$4.56฿151
63.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2₩79.1K
$32.62฿1,082
78.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16₩8,379
$8.90฿295
-30.79%
Cappuccino
$3.87₩5,258
$2.80฿93.0
38.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₩1,563
$0.88฿29.19
30.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66₩901
$0.49฿16.23
34.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.20₩4,352
$2.39฿79.2
33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₩4,067
$3.71฿123
-19.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74₩2,360
$1.79฿59.3
-2.79%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.44฿47.81
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.58฿52.6
-
Eggs
-
$2.13฿70.5
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.92฿661
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.43฿114
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.33฿376
-
Apples(1kg)
$11.14₩15.1K
$2.95฿97.8
277.63%
Banana(1kg)
$3.54₩4,814
$1.72฿57.1
105.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.43₩10.1K
$2.32฿77.1
220.26%
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.08฿69.0
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.47฿48.77
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.36฿45.05
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.10฿36.45
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.57฿19.06
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27฿142
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.42฿611
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.87฿62.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.92฿96.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.22฿73.6
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿759
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00₩4,081
$3.03฿101
-0.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₩767
$1.07฿35.63
-47.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.93฿130
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43₩1,946
$1.49฿49.49
-4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.1K฿899.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.5K฿910.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183₩249.3K
$103฿3,410
78.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.40₩54.9K
$10.99฿365
267.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.99₩28.5K
$17.51฿581
19.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4₩74.0K
$53.5฿1,776
1.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20฿371
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.03₩13.6K
$7.48฿248
34.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$557฿18.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.9K฿393.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0₩78.8K
$64.1฿2,125
-9.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.02₩55.8K
$29.07฿964
41.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1₩112.9K
$96.0฿3,183
-13.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$90.3฿2,997
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508₩690.5K
$730฿24.2K
-30.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360₩489.4K
$500฿16.6K
-27.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046₩2.8M
$2,090฿69.3K
-2.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,497₩2.0M
$1,209฿40.1K
23.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,596฿119.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,512฿83.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyeonggi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,137₩2.9M
$503฿16.7K
324.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5.57
-37.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gyeonggi: August 29, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Gyeonggi and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gyeonggi pays 325% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Gyeonggi vs $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $124 vs $273, with Gyeonggi 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
Gyeonggi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Gyeonggi?
Gyeonggi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gyeonggi or Phuket?
Average pay runs 325% higher in Gyeonggi, 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 Gyeonggi and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Gyeonggi versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Gyeonggi and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gyeonggi or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gyeonggi or in Phuket?
At $1,037 in Gyeonggi versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gyeonggi or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Gyeonggi 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, Gyeonggi or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.