😐A single person spends $1,873 per month in Herentals vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,754 per month in Herentals vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,634 per month in Herentals vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Herentals costs about 48% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Herentals sits 40% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.87€22.25
$4.70฿153
450.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.5
$45.37฿1,482
39.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.55€11.65
$8.43฿275
60.74%
Cappuccino
$2.48€2.14
$2.93฿95.6
-15.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.76
$0.69฿22.40
197.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$0.37฿11.99
389.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33€2.01
$2.41฿78.6
-3.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$3.72฿122
-27.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67€0.57
$2.23฿72.9
-69.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.02€1.74
$1.83฿59.8
10.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$2.17฿70.8
-3.23%
Eggs
$2.43€2.09
$2.21฿72.3
9.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.44€8.98
$19.74฿645
-47.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.53€9.06
$3.63฿119
190.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.06€13.82
$13.53฿442
18.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.51
$3.28฿107
-10.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.61฿52.6
10.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.41฿78.6
-25.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15€2.71
$2.08฿68.1
51.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15€0.99
$1.53฿49.93
-24.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.62
$1.48฿48.36
27.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.97
$0.99฿32.29
14.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31€0.26
$0.51฿16.67
-39.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.27€10.55
$4.41฿144
178.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80€5.85
$19.38฿633
-64.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.78฿58.1
-53.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$2.71฿88.6
-39.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.81€2.42
$1.37฿44.79
105.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.9€48.94
$11.39฿372
399.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.62€6.55
$3.02฿98.6
152.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.21€2.76
$0.99฿32.48
224.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.10€29.33
$14.10฿461
141.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.36฿44.51
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K€28.3K
$28.2K฿921.1K
16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$32.9K฿1.1M
4.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$122฿3,975
40.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.28€18.30
$13.57฿443
56.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.8€48.89
$18.31฿598
210.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.14€33.67
$60.2฿1,967
-35.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.00€14.63
$17.14฿560
-0.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93€12.84
$8.69฿284
71.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$693฿22.6K
-11.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K€11.8K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-12.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6€68.5
$59.5฿1,944
33.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14€42.27
$34.77฿1,136
41.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.9
$115฿3,743
1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.4
$83.3฿2,720
38.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$896€771
$613฿20.0K
46.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739€636
$437฿14.3K
69.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377€1,184
$2,094฿68.4K
-34.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€954
$1,509฿49.3K
-26.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,914€3,367
$3,749฿122.5K
4.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,969€2,554
$2,616฿85.4K
13.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,330€2,005
$508฿16.6K
358.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
5.33
-41.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Herentals: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $896 in Herentals versus $613 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 359% higher in Herentals, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Herentals versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $262 in Herentals vs $293 in Phuket – so Herentals 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
Herentals vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Herentals?
Yes – Herentals is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,810 per month in Herentals and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Herentals or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Herentals and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Herentals vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,873 in Herentals and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Herentals or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Herentals at $1,873. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herentals it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Herentals or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Herentals or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herentals makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.