Cost of Living Comparison Between Kefalonia and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kefalonia and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,567 per month in Kefalonia vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Kefalonia vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Kefalonia vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

Kefalonia costs about 23% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kefalonia sits 17% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 โ‚ฌ14.57
$4.66 เธฟ150
266.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 โ‚ฌ49.54
$46.44 เธฟ1,496
25.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 โ‚ฌ8.46
$8.68 เธฟ280
14.29%
Cappuccino
$3.11 โ‚ฌ2.66
$2.95 เธฟ95.0
5.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 โ‚ฌ1.92
$0.70 เธฟ22.52
221.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 โ‚ฌ0.49
$0.39 เธฟ12.70
46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.81 โ‚ฌ4.11
$2.53 เธฟ81.6
90.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 โ‚ฌ5.08
$3.78 เธฟ122
57.67%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 โ‚ฌ1.48
$2.22 เธฟ71.5
-21.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 โ‚ฌ1.27
$1.80 เธฟ57.8
-17.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 โ‚ฌ2.03
$2.19 เธฟ70.4
8.22%
Eggs
$4.13 โ‚ฌ3.52
$2.31 เธฟ74.5
78.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.38 โ‚ฌ11.42
$19.34 เธฟ623
-30.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.99 โ‚ฌ8.52
$3.77 เธฟ121
164.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 โ‚ฌ11.91
$13.22 เธฟ426
5.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.90
$3.33 เธฟ107
-33.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 โ‚ฌ1.79
$1.65 เธฟ53.1
27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 โ‚ฌ1.24
$2.29 เธฟ73.7
-36.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$1.99 เธฟ64.1
-1.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 โ‚ฌ1.04
$1.53 เธฟ49.24
-20.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 โ‚ฌ1.06
$1.51 เธฟ48.77
-17.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 โ‚ฌ0.87
$1.03 เธฟ33.12
-0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 โ‚ฌ0.66
$0.51 เธฟ16.57
50.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36 โ‚ฌ4.57
$4.41 เธฟ142
21.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.97 โ‚ฌ5.95
$19.41 เธฟ625
-64.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.17
$1.80 เธฟ58.0
41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.40
$2.68 เธฟ86.4
4.85%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 โ‚ฌ1.35
$1.43 เธฟ46.11
10.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.45 โ‚ฌ38.77
$11.70 เธฟ377
288.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.74 โ‚ฌ4.04
$3.04 เธฟ97.9
55.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 เธฟ33.37
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.47 โ‚ฌ11.49
$13.68 เธฟ441
-1.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 โ‚ฌ1.82
$1.30 เธฟ41.85
63.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K โ‚ฌ26.4K
$27.9K เธฟ898.9K
10.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K โ‚ฌ23.1K
$33.0K เธฟ1.1M
-18.17%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 โ‚ฌ251
$123 เธฟ3,962
139.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93 โ‚ฌ19.56
$13.82 เธฟ445
65.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.16 โ‚ฌ27.44
$18.86 เธฟ608
70.52%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.12 โ‚ฌ41.90
$61.2 เธฟ1,970
-19.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.53 โ‚ฌ22.63
$16.81 เธฟ541
57.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.65 โ‚ฌ8.23
$8.87 เธฟ286
8.79%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 โ‚ฌ355
$696 เธฟ22.4K
-40.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,958 โ‚ฌ5,082
$16.1K เธฟ517.4K
-62.90%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 โ‚ฌ74.6
$59.3 เธฟ1,910
47.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.52 โ‚ฌ32.86
$34.85 เธฟ1,123
10.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 โ‚ฌ83.0
$113 เธฟ3,646
-14.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 โ‚ฌ89.9
$85.1 เธฟ2,740
23.90%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 โ‚ฌ460
$615 เธฟ19.8K
-12.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$439 โ‚ฌ374
$448 เธฟ14.4K
-2.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 โ‚ฌ959
$2,085 เธฟ67.2K
-46.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 โ‚ฌ708
$1,496 เธฟ48.2K
-44.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,923 โ‚ฌ2,494
$3,734 เธฟ120.3K
-21.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,521 โ‚ฌ2,150
$2,662 เธฟ85.8K
-5.30%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,169 โ‚ฌ997
$534 เธฟ17.2K
119.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
5.33
-16.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kefalonia: April 22, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Kefalonia versus $615 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 119% higher in Kefalonia, 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 $58 in Kefalonia versus $46 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story โ€“ $281 in Kefalonia vs $291 in Phuket โ€“ so Kefalonia 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
Kefalonia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kefalonia or Phuket?
Kefalonia costs about 23% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kefalonia vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,351 per month in Kefalonia and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kefalonia or Phuket?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Kefalonia and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $417 per month in Kefalonia and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kefalonia or Phuket?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Kefalonia โ€“ one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kefalonia or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Kefalonia at $1,567. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kefalonia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kefalonia or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,270 versus $1,567 in Kefalonia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kefalonia compared to 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 โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kefalonia or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kefalonia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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