ðA single person spends $1,898 per month in Kortrijk vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,748 per month in Kortrijk vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,598 per month in Kortrijk vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðKortrijk costs about 54% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðKortrijk sits 42% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.81âŽ19.52
$4.63āļŋ151
392.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5âŽ58.7
$46.84āļŋ1,532
46.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70âŽ10.02
$8.84āļŋ289
32.35%
Cappuccino
$3.29âŽ2.81
$3.00āļŋ98.0
9.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12âŽ2.67
$0.74āļŋ24.25
321.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76âŽ2.36
$0.37āļŋ11.95
645.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.54âŽ3.88
$2.44āļŋ79.8
86.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45âŽ2.95
$3.61āļŋ118
-4.43%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34âŽ1.15
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-40.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87âŽ1.60
$1.84āļŋ60.1
1.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37âŽ1.17
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-38.84%
Eggs
$2.66âŽ2.28
$2.32āļŋ75.7
14.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.83âŽ15.26
$19.67āļŋ643
-9.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.88âŽ9.32
$3.65āļŋ119
198.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.64âŽ14.25
$13.10āļŋ428
27.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26âŽ1.94
$3.39āļŋ111
-33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37âŽ2.03
$1.64āļŋ53.7
44.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06âŽ1.77
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-14.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09âŽ1.79
$2.03āļŋ66.4
2.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$1.56āļŋ50.9
35.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40âŽ2.06
$1.50āļŋ48.94
60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46âŽ1.25
$1.02āļŋ33.50
43.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79âŽ0.68
$0.49āļŋ16.00
61.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.55âŽ10.74
$4.45āļŋ145
182.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02âŽ5.15
$18.88āļŋ617
-68.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69âŽ1.45
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-5.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03âŽ1.74
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-26.18%
ð Getting Around
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.55âŽ3.89
$1.40āļŋ45.81
225.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.6âŽ48.42
$11.48āļŋ376
392.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33âŽ1.99
$3.12āļŋ102
-25.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53âŽ2.17
$1.00āļŋ32.67
153.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.49âŽ39.79
$14.09āļŋ461
229.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90âŽ1.63
$1.35āļŋ44.19
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KâŽ25.5K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
9.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KâŽ23.6K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-16.30%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194âŽ166
$125āļŋ4,087
55.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.05âŽ19.73
$13.57āļŋ444
69.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8âŽ44.32
$18.52āļŋ606
179.59%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2âŽ43.80
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-16.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.79âŽ10.09
$16.84āļŋ551
-29.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13âŽ12.09
$9.19āļŋ300
53.75%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487âŽ417
$698āļŋ22.8K
-30.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,630âŽ3,964
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-70.30%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.9âŽ68.4
$57.8āļŋ1,889
38.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.32âŽ25.96
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-13.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8âŽ84.6
$113āļŋ3,699
-12.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115âŽ98.1
$86.4āļŋ2,825
32.66%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798âŽ683
$616āļŋ20.1K
29.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704âŽ603
$446āļŋ14.6K
57.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,029âŽ881
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-49.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$926âŽ792
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-37.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,360âŽ3,732
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
15.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,309âŽ1,976
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-12.84%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,950âŽ2,525
$524āļŋ17.1K
463.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
5.33
-38.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kortrijk: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $798 in Kortrijk 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.
ð°Salaries run about 463% higher in Kortrijk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Kortrijk versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $292 â 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
Kortrijk vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kortrijk or Phuket?
Kortrijk costs about 54% 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 Kortrijk vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,847 per month in Kortrijk and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kortrijk 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Kortrijk or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Kortrijk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Kortrijk vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Kortrijk and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kortrijk or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Kortrijk at $1,898. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kortrijk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kortrijk or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,898 in Kortrijk. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kortrijk 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kortrijk or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kortrijk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.