😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Hamont-Achel versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,345 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,054 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,398 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,876 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Hamont-Achel is roughly 86% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamont-Achel is 68% above, Phuket is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.20€20.22
$4.41฿147
426.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2€79.5
$32.26฿1,077
182.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.32€13.36
$8.93฿298
71.56%
Cappuccino
$4.64€4.04
$2.90฿96.6
60.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.25
$0.88฿29.38
322.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.80
$0.48฿16.06
568.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82€5.07
$2.35฿78.5
147.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85€5.10
$3.72฿124
57.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41€1.23
$1.87฿62.3
-24.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97€2.59
$1.47฿48.94
102.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00€2.62
$1.55฿51.8
93.55%
Eggs
$5.42€4.72
$2.10฿70.1
158.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.21€15.87
$19.59฿654
-7.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.26€11.56
$3.42฿114
287.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.85€19.92
$11.38฿380
100.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.38€2.95
$2.98฿99.6
13.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57€2.24
$1.68฿56.2
52.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81€2.45
$2.21฿73.7
27.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.03€3.51
$2.16฿72.1
86.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$1.52฿50.9
74.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40€2.09
$1.34฿44.67
79.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.85€1.61
$1.13฿37.67
63.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.05
$0.55฿18.24
118.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.95€12.16
$4.26฿142
227.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21€8.90
$19.09฿637
-46.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.38
$1.78฿59.4
53.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.68
$2.78฿92.9
10.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09€2.70
$2.23฿74.4
38.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.4€53.5
$22.74฿759
170.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08€2.69
$3.03฿101
1.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41€2.10
$1.02฿34.15
136.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.89€36.52
$3.89฿130
976.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.87
$1.49฿49.77
44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.8K
$26.6K฿887.3K
37.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€30.0K
$27.0K฿902.2K
27.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$289€252
$102฿3,420
182.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.74€18.95
$11.33฿378
91.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0€47.96
$17.40฿581
216.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.76€32.05
$52.1฿1,738
-29.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.98€17.42
$11.07฿370
80.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.95€13.90
$7.69฿257
107.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,679€1,464
$561฿18.7K
199.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$38.2K€33.3K
$11.5K฿384.1K
232.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106€92.2
$63.0฿2,104
67.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.01€41.85
$29.52฿986
62.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€94.7
$98.0฿3,272
10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152€133
$88.5฿2,954
71.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$974€849
$738฿24.6K
31.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841€733
$482฿16.1K
74.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,410€1,229
$2,107฿70.3K
-33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,154€1,006
$1,226฿40.9K
-5.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,861€3,365
$3,617฿120.7K
6.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,851€2,485
$2,603฿86.9K
9.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamont-Achel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
5.57
-32.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamont-Achel: September 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $974 in Hamont-Achel and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Hamont-Achel vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $274 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Hamont-Achel and $1,847 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: $974 in Hamont-Achel versus $738 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 $2,291 per month in Hamont-Achel versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 86% 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 170% 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 $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,291 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 86% 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