😐A single person spends $1,869 per month in Herentals vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Herentals vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Herentals vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Herentals costs about 49% 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
$25.65€22.44
$4.55฿153
463.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4€54.6
$46.18฿1,554
35.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.35€11.68
$8.84฿298
51.02%
Cappuccino
$2.48€2.17
$3.06฿103
-18.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.80
$0.73฿24.42
182.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.54
$0.40฿13.40
340.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35€2.06
$2.43฿81.8
-3.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71€2.37
$3.78฿127
-28.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63€0.55
$2.26฿76.0
-72.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.77
$1.81฿60.9
12.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11€1.84
$2.25฿75.8
-6.22%
Eggs
$2.44€2.14
$2.25฿75.6
8.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56€9.24
$19.51฿656
-45.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.60€9.27
$3.65฿123
190.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.14€14.12
$13.05฿439
23.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87€2.51
$3.23฿109
-11.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.51
$1.62฿54.4
6.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.51
$2.38฿80.2
-27.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21€2.80
$2.03฿68.2
58.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.03
$1.53฿51.6
-22.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.65
$1.50฿50.5
26.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.99
$0.98฿32.93
15.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31€0.27
$0.52฿17.40
-40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.66€11.07
$4.44฿149
185.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€6.09
$18.32฿616
-62.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.86฿62.7
-54.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.40
$2.68฿90.2
-40.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84€2.48
$1.41฿47.49
101.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.4€50.2
$11.70฿394
390.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.31€6.39
$3.11฿105
135.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.14€2.75
$1.04฿35.08
201.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.85
$14.11฿475
149.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.69
$1.31฿44.13
47.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K€28.2K
$27.8K฿936.0K
15.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K€30.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
5.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176€154
$122฿4,120
43.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.37€18.70
$13.59฿457
57.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7€48.72
$18.70฿629
197.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.16€33.39
$60.5฿2,035
-36.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.01€14.89
$16.98฿572
0.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.24€13.33
$9.07฿305
68.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€532
$706฿23.8K
-13.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.8K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-14.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4€72.1
$58.6฿1,970
40.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.79€43.56
$35.36฿1,190
40.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€100
$115฿3,885
-0.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€101
$83.7฿2,818
37.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$907€794
$626฿21.1K
45.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762€666
$445฿15.0K
71.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,338€1,171
$2,040฿68.7K
-34.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,089€953
$1,492฿50.2K
-27.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,914€3,424
$3,483฿117.2K
12.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,977€2,604
$2,577฿86.7K
15.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herentals
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,299€2,011
$500฿16.8K
359.94%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $907 in Herentals versus $626 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 360% 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 $62.0 in Herentals versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $262 in Herentals vs $289 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 49%, 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 $2,804 per month in Herentals and $1,875 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 in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Herentals and $46.00 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 and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,869 in Herentals and $1,250 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 living in Herentals or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Herentals at $1,869. 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.