Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,195 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,991 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,787 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Gyeongju is about 3% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gyeongju and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Gyeongju 13% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 ₩10.6K

$4.41 ฿147

73.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.07 ₩68.0K

$32.26 ฿1,074

52.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 ₩9,422

$8.93 ฿297

-23.85%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ₩4,001

$2.90 ฿96.4

-0.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₩1,578

$0.88 ฿29.30

29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₩529

$0.48 ฿16.01

-20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 ₩3,566

$2.35 ฿78.3

9.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,983

$3.72 ฿124

16.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,258

$1.87 ฿62.1

25.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₩3,369

$1.47 ฿48.81

65.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,189

$1.55 ฿51.7

94.84%

Eggs

$2.70 ₩3,748

$2.10 ฿70.0

28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.84 ₩15.0K

$19.59 ฿652

-44.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₩14.7K

$3.42 ฿114

209.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.45 ₩25.6K

$11.38 ฿379

62.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 ₩6,221

$2.98 ฿99.3

50.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 ₩3,644

$1.68 ฿56.1

56.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 ₩5,252

$2.21 ฿73.5

71.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.64 ₩5,039

$2.16 ฿72.0

68.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₩3,619

$1.52 ฿50.8

71.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₩3,146

$1.34 ฿44.55

69.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 ₩3,136

$1.13 ฿37.57

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₩1,785

$0.55 ฿18.19

134.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,513

$4.26 ฿142

-23.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 ₩20.5K

$19.09 ฿635

-22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₩1,581

$1.78 ฿59.2

-35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₩3,128

$2.78 ฿92.6

-18.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,470

$2.23 ฿74.2

-52.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₩4,148

$3.03 ฿101

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ₩1,069

$1.02 ฿34.06

-24.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.70 ₩23.1K

$3.89 ฿130

329.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₩1,483

$1.49 ฿49.63

-28.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K ₩39.9M

$26.6K ฿884.9K

8.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.0K ₩47.1M

$27.0K ฿899.8K

25.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.9 ₩109.3K

$102 ฿3,411

-23.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.70 ₩50.9K

$11.33 ฿377

223.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩37.7K

$17.40 ฿579

56.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₩78.8K

$52.1 ฿1,734

9.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₩16.3K

$11.07 ฿369

6.50%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 ₩15.5K

$7.69 ฿256

45.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$622 ₩862.7K

$561 ฿18.7K

11.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K ₩30.0M

$11.5K ฿383.0K

87.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.03 ₩61.0K

$63.0 ฿2,098

-30.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.74 ₩31.5K

$29.52 ฿983

-22.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 ₩129.0K

$98.0 ฿3,263

-5.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.7K

$88.5 ฿2,946

40.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₩630.3K

$738 ฿24.6K

-38.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₩485.4K

$482 ฿16.1K

-27.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 ₩1.6M

$2,107 ฿70.1K

-45.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 ₩998.6K

$1,226 ฿40.8K

-41.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,970 ₩9.7M

$3,617 ฿120.4K

92.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,512 ₩7.6M

$2,603 ฿86.7K

111.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,837 ₩2.5M

$494 ฿16.4K

272.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.57

-24.24%

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

Last update for Gyeongju: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Gyeongju versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 272% higher in Gyeongju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Gyeongju versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $274 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Gyeongju vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,793 per month in Gyeongju and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,195 in Gyeongju and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $622 per month in Gyeongju and $561 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,195, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.