Cost of Living Comparison Between Itu and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Itu and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $671 per month in Itu vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,213 per month in Itu vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,755 per month in Itu vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Itu is about 46% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Itu and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Itu50% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.21R$25.99
$4.63฿151
12.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.16R$165
$46.84฿1,532
-29.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71R$28.49
$8.84฿289
-35.41%
Cappuccino
$1.74R$8.71
$3.00฿98.0
-42.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69R$3.42
$0.74฿24.25
-6.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47R$2.34
$0.37฿11.95
27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75R$8.73
$2.44฿79.8
-28.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32R$16.57
$3.61฿118
-8.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98R$4.89
$2.26฿73.9
-56.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31R$6.55
$1.84฿60.1
-28.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25R$6.24
$2.24฿73.4
-44.20%
Eggs
$2.37R$11.81
$2.32฿75.7
2.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.24R$41.13
$19.67฿643
-58.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.58R$17.86
$3.65฿119
-1.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.31R$26.48
$13.10฿428
-59.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67R$8.31
$3.39฿111
-50.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25R$6.22
$1.64฿53.7
-23.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.70R$3.48
$2.41฿79.0
-70.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52R$7.59
$2.03฿66.4
-25.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86R$4.27
$1.56฿50.9
-44.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08R$5.39
$1.50฿48.94
-28.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75R$3.73
$1.02฿33.50
-26.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44R$2.19
$0.49฿16.00
-10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66R$13.26
$4.45฿145
-40.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.88R$29.33
$18.88฿617
-68.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39R$6.92
$1.78฿58.1
-21.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71R$13.53
$2.75฿90.1
-1.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Itu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.59
$1.40฿45.81
-34.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.45R$192
$11.48฿376
234.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92R$4.57
$3.12฿102
-70.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88R$4.41
$1.00฿32.67
-12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.55R$42.65
$14.09฿461
-39.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.57
$1.35฿44.19
-31.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KR$110.0K
$27.2K฿888.9K
-18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KR$126.7K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-22.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.39R$236
$125฿4,087
-62.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.63R$53.1
$13.57฿444
-21.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.56R$77.7
$18.52฿606
-15.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.87R$114
$61.5฿2,010
-62.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.59R$108
$16.84฿551
28.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37R$21.78
$9.19฿300
-52.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315R$1,572
$698฿22.8K
-54.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,934R$34.6K
$15.6K฿509.9K
-55.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.12R$225
$57.8฿1,889
-21.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.85R$179
$35.24฿1,152
1.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.9R$314
$113฿3,699
-44.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.75R$228
$86.4฿2,825
-47.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Itu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290R$1,445
$616฿20.1K
-52.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183R$915
$446฿14.6K
-58.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$725R$3,619
$2,048฿67.0K
-64.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$590R$2,946
$1,492฿48.8K
-60.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,662R$8,296
$3,779฿123.6K
-56.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,171R$5,842
$2,649฿86.6K
-55.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Itu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$300R$1,499
$524฿17.1K
-42.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5.33
104.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Itu: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Itu versus $616 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 74% higher in Phuket, 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 $33.00 in Itu versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $292 – making Itu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Itu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Itu and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $671 in Itu, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 84% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Itu compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,006 per month in Itu and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Itu and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Itu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Itu and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Itu or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $671 in Itu and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Itu, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Itu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Itu and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $671 in Itu to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Itu or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Itu and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Itu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.