Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $758 per month in La Marsa vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,346 per month in La Marsa vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in La Marsa vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

La Marsa is about 40% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Marsa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 44% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.35 TND 9.77
$4.56 ฿149
-26.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.69 TND 63.3
$46.63 ฿1,519
-53.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 TND 11.94
$8.47 ฿276
-51.71%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.07
$3.03 ฿98.6
-76.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 TND 1.89
$0.69 ฿22.45
-5.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.37 ฿11.92
-32.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.36
$2.49 ฿81.0
-40.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 TND 7.30
$3.66 ฿119
-31.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.48
$2.18 ฿71.0
-76.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.54
$1.90 ฿62.0
-90.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.39
$2.20 ฿71.6
-31.36%
Eggs
$1.59 TND 4.63
$2.22 ฿72.4
-28.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.07 TND 32.31
$19.99 ฿651
-44.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 TND 16.40
$3.66 ฿119
53.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.31 TND 38.84
$13.25 ฿432
0.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 TND 5.49
$3.23 ฿105
-41.80%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 TND 8.81
$1.70 ฿55.3
77.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 3.05
$2.39 ฿78.0
-56.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 TND 1.97
$2.08 ฿67.7
-67.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.88
$1.59 ฿51.8
-59.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 TND 1.47
$1.48 ฿48.31
-66.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 TND 1.07
$1.03 ฿33.54
-64.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.52 ฿16.83
-51.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 TND 9.96
$4.25 ฿138
-19.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.00 TND 20.43
$18.79 ฿612
-62.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.21
$1.76 ฿57.2
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 3.06
$2.76 ฿89.8
-61.96%
🚌 Getting Around
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$1.36 ฿44.32
-75.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.75 TND 19.70
$11.36 ฿370
-40.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.84
$3.14 ฿102
-90.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 TND 0.64
$1.04 ฿33.74
-78.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.14 TND 12.09
$13.77 ฿448
-69.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.56
$1.34 ฿43.79
-34.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K TND 101.5K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
25.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K TND 78.4K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-20.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.87 TND 102
$124 ฿4,025
-71.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.87 TND 28.80
$13.52 ฿440
-27.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.60 TND 42.61
$18.69 ฿609
-21.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.21 TND 132
$61.8 ฿2,013
-26.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.44 TND 21.69
$17.25 ฿562
-56.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.47 TND 13.03
$9.14 ฿298
-51.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.8 TND 250
$703 ฿22.9K
-87.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,413 TND 7,039
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-84.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.40 TND 130
$59.5 ฿1,937
-25.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.25 TND 129
$35.07 ฿1,142
26.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 TND 263
$115 ฿3,754
-21.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2 TND 187
$84.1 ฿2,737
-23.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$352 TND 1,027
$619 ฿20.1K
-43.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 TND 815
$433 ฿14.1K
-35.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$776 TND 2,263
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-62.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$829 TND 2,420
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-45.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,842 TND 5,374
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-49.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,070 TND 3,120
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-59.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Marsa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 TND 1,014
$507 ฿16.5K
-31.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
5.33
155.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for La Marsa: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in La Marsa versus $619 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 46% 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 $22.00 in La Marsa versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $293 – making La Marsa 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
La Marsa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than La Marsa?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,136 per month in La Marsa and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in La Marsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in La Marsa vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $758 in La Marsa and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 68% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for La Marsa or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Phuket at $1,261. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Marsa or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward La Marsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, La Marsa or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Marsa. 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.

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