😐A single person spends $1,895 per month in Kortrijk vs $1,223 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,734 per month in Kortrijk vs $2,237 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,574 per month in Kortrijk vs $3,251 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Kortrijk costs about 55% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kortrijk sits 42% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.48€20.21
$4.51฿147
420.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.0
$46.62฿1,515
46.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.35€9.78
$8.49฿276
33.69%
Cappuccino
$3.15€2.71
$3.08฿100
2.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$0.68฿22.07
339.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$0.36฿11.75
658.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51€3.88
$2.43฿78.8
85.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.97
$3.63฿118
-5.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.19฿71.1
-41.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.64
$1.81฿59.0
5.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38€1.19
$2.23฿72.5
-38.12%
Eggs
$2.66€2.29
$2.24฿72.7
18.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.08€15.57
$19.60฿637
-7.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.87€9.36
$3.72฿121
192.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.01€14.65
$13.47฿438
26.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18€1.88
$3.36฿109
-35.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.62฿52.5
51.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$2.41฿78.3
-16.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.99฿64.6
-0.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.53฿49.76
39.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36€2.04
$1.45฿47.19
62.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.26
$1.01฿32.96
44.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.48฿15.73
64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.64€10.88
$4.27฿139
196.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.30€5.42
$19.12฿621
-67.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$1.84฿59.7
-3.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.74
$2.74฿89.1
-26.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76€4.10
$1.42฿46.06
235.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.5€49.49
$11.72฿381
390.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26€1.95
$3.00฿97.6
-24.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50€2.15
$1.05฿34.00
138.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.84€40.34
$13.90฿452
236.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88€1.62
$1.29฿41.94
45.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.3K
$28.0K฿911.1K
4.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K€23.8K
$33.5K฿1.1M
-17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193€167
$122฿3,964
58.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.47€20.21
$13.93฿453
68.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0€44.78
$18.87฿613
175.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2€44.91
$61.3฿1,992
-14.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76€10.13
$16.84฿547
-30.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.40€12.40
$8.89฿289
61.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487€419
$691฿22.5K
-29.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,556€3,923
$16.2K฿525.2K
-71.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1€69.0
$57.8฿1,878
38.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38€26.16
$35.39฿1,150
-14.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$113฿3,685
-10.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$83.0฿2,698
40.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$821€707
$607฿19.7K
35.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$714€615
$448฿14.6K
59.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,009€869
$2,029฿66.0K
-50.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$958€825
$1,493฿48.5K
-35.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,242€3,653
$3,585฿116.5K
18.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299€1,980
$2,585฿84.0K
-11.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kortrijk
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,968€2,555
$505฿16.4K
487.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
5.33
-38.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kortrijk: June 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $821 in Kortrijk versus $607 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 488% higher in Kortrijk, 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 $68.0 in Kortrijk versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $292 – 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 55% 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 $2,842 per month in Kortrijk and $1,835 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 4% 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 $68.0 in Kortrijk and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café 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 $1,223, than in Kortrijk at $1,895. 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 $1,223 versus $1,895 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 – 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.