😐A single person spends $1,596 per month in Kefalonia vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Kefalonia vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,209 per month in Kefalonia vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Kefalonia costs about 26% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kefalonia sits 16% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.42€13.30
$4.66฿154
230.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.30€34.74
$32.22฿1,065
25.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59€9.13
$8.68฿287
22.00%
Cappuccino
$3.12€2.69
$2.90฿95.8
7.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.04
$0.84฿27.89
320.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.59
$0.49฿16.16
38.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90€4.22
$2.48฿82.0
97.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37€4.63
$3.73฿123
43.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.89฿62.3
-7.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52€1.31
$1.41฿46.54
7.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$1.62฿53.6
59.26%
Eggs
$4.61€3.97
$2.24฿74.1
105.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.08€12.14
$19.84฿656
-29.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.96€8.58
$3.48฿115
186.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81€12.77
$11.37฿376
30.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30€1.99
$2.90฿95.8
-20.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$1.72฿57.0
27.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47€1.27
$2.27฿75.1
-35.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.13฿70.4
-5.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$1.47฿48.72
-19.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20€1.04
$1.42฿46.92
-15.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18€1.02
$1.10฿36.25
7.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.60฿19.76
38.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61€4.84
$4.31฿142
30.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02€6.05
$18.60฿615
-62.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64€2.28
$1.80฿59.5
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.40
$2.97฿98.0
-6.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.18
$2.25฿74.2
-39.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.54€42.71
$23.49฿776
110.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.44
$3.10฿102
28.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.96
$1.08฿35.56
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.13€14.76
$3.87฿128
342.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.81
$1.43฿47.16
46.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K€24.7K
$27.8K฿918.0K
3.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K€22.4K
$27.0K฿891.5K
-3.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296€255
$105฿3,462
182.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.04€20.72
$11.39฿376
111.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51€26.30
$17.54฿580
73.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2€45.00
$54.3฿1,795
-3.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.38€22.74
$11.44฿378
130.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03€7.78
$7.78฿257
16.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$443€382
$576฿19.0K
-23.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,957€5,997
$11.6K฿382.7K
-39.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.2€73.4
$63.6฿2,103
33.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.09€35.42
$29.10฿961
41.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1€83.7
$96.2฿3,179
0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
$90.0฿2,974
47.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$545€470
$733฿24.2K
-25.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$452€390
$501฿16.5K
-9.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,116€962
$2,126฿70.2K
-47.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$823€710
$1,252฿41.4K
-34.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,954€2,546
$3,534฿116.8K
-16.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,426€2,092
$2,622฿86.6K
-7.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kefalonia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,150€991
$508฿16.8K
126.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
5.57
-20.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kefalonia: September 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Kefalonia versus $733 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 127% 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 $40.00 in Kefalonia versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $275 – making Phuket 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
Kefalonia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kefalonia or Phuket?
Kefalonia costs about 26% 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 and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,394 per month in Kefalonia and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Kefalonia and $576 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 in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Kefalonia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kefalonia or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Kefalonia at $1,596. 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 $1,265 versus $1,596 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kefalonia or to 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.