Cost of Living Comparison Between Hvar and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Hvar and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,527 in Hvar versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,306 in Hvar versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Hvar versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Hvar is roughly 21% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hvar is 14% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38€11.56
$4.56฿149
193.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9€63.0
$46.63฿1,524
56.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.11€7.87
$8.47฿277
7.56%
Cappuccino
$2.51€2.17
$3.03฿98.9
-17.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.73
$0.69฿22.52
357.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.04
$0.37฿11.96
537.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.63€3.14
$2.49฿81.3
45.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16€3.59
$3.66฿120
13.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$2.18฿71.3
-45.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.32
$1.90฿62.2
-19.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16€2.73
$2.20฿71.8
43.64%
Eggs
$3.85€3.33
$2.22฿72.6
73.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.80€9.33
$19.99฿653
-45.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.79€8.46
$3.66฿120
167.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.71€10.12
$13.25฿433
-11.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$3.23฿106
-49.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$1.70฿55.5
-1.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$2.39฿78.2
-18.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$2.08฿67.9
18.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28€1.11
$1.59฿52.0
-19.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32€1.14
$1.48฿48.47
-10.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22€1.05
$1.03฿33.65
18.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.08
$0.52฿16.89
142.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77€4.98
$4.25฿139
35.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.05€6.09
$18.79฿614
-62.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.29
$1.76฿57.4
-15.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.71
$2.76฿90.1
-28.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.82€1.57
$1.36฿44.47
33.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.18€36.45
$11.36฿371
271.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03€2.62
$3.14฿103
-3.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09€0.95
$1.04฿33.85
4.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.05€7.82
$13.77฿450
-34.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.48
$1.34฿43.94
27.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.0K
$27.7K฿904.5K
37.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K€23.0K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-21.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€160
$124฿4,039
49.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45€19.40
$13.52฿442
66.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36€27.10
$18.69฿611
67.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0€44.08
$61.8฿2,020
-17.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.02€12.98
$17.25฿564
-12.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.88€7.67
$9.14฿299
-2.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$243€210
$703฿23.0K
-65.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,096€6,996
$15.9K฿518.7K
-48.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1€78.8
$59.5฿1,943
53.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51€33.28
$35.07฿1,146
9.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.7
$115฿3,767
-10.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€91.3
$84.1฿2,747
25.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$679€587
$619฿20.2K
9.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$528€456
$433฿14.1K
21.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,080€933
$2,062฿67.4K
-47.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$827€715
$1,511฿49.4K
-45.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,011€3,466
$3,646฿119.1K
10.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,225€2,787
$2,626฿85.8K
22.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hvar
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$507฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
5.33
-18.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hvar: June 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $679 in Hvar and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Hvar vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $293, with Hvar cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hvar vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Hvar?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,291 in Hvar and $1,892 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 Hvar and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $679 in Hvar versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Hvar or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $73.0 in Hvar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Hvar vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,527 per month in Hvar versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hvar or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,527 in Hvar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hvar. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hvar or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hvar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hvar or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Hvar 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 21% less than in Hvar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.