😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,184 in Hamont-Achel versus $1,264 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,196 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,256 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,208 in Hamont-Achel versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Hamont-Achel is roughly 73% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamont-Achel is 64% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50€15.16
$4.48฿150
290.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.7€81.1
$45.59฿1,521
105.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.30€10.66
$8.76฿292
40.41%
Cappuccino
$3.41€2.95
$2.97฿99.0
14.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25€2.82
$0.69฿22.90
371.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.03
$0.39฿13.04
502.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.91
$2.53฿84.4
78.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.20
$3.75฿125
-1.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.15฿71.6
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82€2.44
$1.82฿60.6
54.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40€2.08
$2.18฿72.9
10.09%
Eggs
$3.90€3.37
$2.25฿75.0
73.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.61€22.18
$20.00฿667
28.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.19€9.69
$3.63฿121
208.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.37€18.50
$13.56฿452
57.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27€2.83
$3.24฿108
0.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.09
$1.64฿54.6
46.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96€2.56
$2.33฿77.8
27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17€2.75
$2.07฿69.1
53.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.96€2.56
$1.55฿51.6
90.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.86
$1.46฿48.54
46.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81€1.57
$0.98฿32.86
84.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.48฿16.09
83.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72€8.42
$4.35฿145
123.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42€8.16
$18.57฿620
-49.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.80
$1.86฿61.9
11.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.73
$2.65฿88.6
18.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93€2.54
$1.42฿47.28
106.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.4€48.86
$11.57฿386
387.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.83€4.19
$3.17฿106
52.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.02
$1.03฿34.41
127.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.68€35.23
$13.89฿463
192.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.61
$1.34฿44.84
38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.8K
$27.8K฿927.1K
23.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K€25.2K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-12.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$349€302
$123฿4,105
183.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.92€24.18
$13.77฿459
102.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5€52.4
$18.33฿611
230.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.75€33.55
$60.7฿2,025
-36.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02€14.74
$17.16฿573
-0.82%
Cinema Ticket
$15.34€13.29
$8.87฿296
72.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$625€541
$688฿22.9K
-9.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.7K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-14.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.6
$59.3฿1,978
45.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.88€40.60
$34.69฿1,157
35.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€96.9
$115฿3,843
-2.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172€149
$83.8฿2,794
105.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911€789
$621฿20.7K
46.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748€648
$446฿14.9K
67.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,341€1,161
$2,034฿67.8K
-34.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,082€937
$1,496฿49.9K
-27.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,045€3,503
$3,455฿115.3K
17.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,352€2,903
$2,531฿84.4K
32.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
5.33
-31.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamont-Achel: July 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $911 in Hamont-Achel and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Hamont-Achel vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $291 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
Hamont-Achel vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Hamont-Achel?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,276 in Hamont-Achel and $1,896 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.
What is the rent difference between Hamont-Achel and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $911 in Hamont-Achel versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamont-Achel and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,184 per month in Hamont-Achel versus $1,264 in Phuket – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 388% less than in Hamont-Achel. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamont-Achel or in Phuket?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,184 in Hamont-Achel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hamont-Achel. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamont-Achel or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamont-Achel, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamont-Achel or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Hamont-Achel 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 73% less than in Hamont-Achel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hamont-Achel vs other spots: cost of living compared