😐A single person spends $1,798 per month in La Spezia vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,647 per month in La Spezia vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,495 per month in La Spezia vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐La Spezia costs about 44% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊La Spezia sits 35% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69€15.48
$4.55฿153
288.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7€70.6
$46.18฿1,554
74.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55€8.35
$8.84฿298
8.03%
Cappuccino
$1.99€1.74
$3.06฿103
-34.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.78
$0.73฿24.42
335.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.22
$0.40฿13.40
247.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75€5.03
$2.43฿81.8
136.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78€4.18
$3.78฿127
26.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.21
$2.26฿76.0
-38.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.76
$1.81฿60.9
11.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63€2.30
$2.25฿75.8
16.89%
Eggs
$4.23€3.70
$2.25฿75.6
88.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43€12.63
$19.51฿656
-26.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.50€12.68
$3.65฿123
297.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.38€16.96
$13.05฿439
48.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.31
$3.23฿109
-18.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.91
$1.62฿54.4
35.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$2.38฿80.2
2.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86€2.50
$2.03฿68.2
40.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62€2.29
$1.53฿51.6
71.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77€1.55
$1.50฿50.5
18.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.23
$0.98฿32.93
43.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47€0.41
$0.52฿17.40
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97€6.10
$4.44฿149
56.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.63€5.80
$18.32฿616
-63.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.51
$1.86฿62.7
-7.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.65
$2.68฿90.2
-29.48%
🚌 Getting Around
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73€1.51
$1.41฿47.49
22.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.72€33.88
$11.70฿394
230.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.81€4.21
$3.11฿105
54.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04€0.91
$1.04฿35.08
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.77€28.67
$14.11฿475
132.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.84
$1.31฿44.13
60.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K€24.6K
$27.8K฿936.0K
0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K€23.7K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-18.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264€231
$122฿4,120
115.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12€11.48
$13.59฿457
-3.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.29€27.37
$18.70฿629
67.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.9€55.1
$60.5฿2,035
4.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95€15.71
$16.98฿572
5.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.67€9.34
$9.07฿305
17.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$573€501
$706฿23.8K
-18.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K€9,780
$15.8K฿531.8K
-29.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0€58.7
$58.6฿1,970
14.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.45€37.14
$35.36฿1,190
20.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.8€72.5
$115฿3,885
-28.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118€103
$83.7฿2,818
41.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$761€666
$626฿21.1K
21.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$592€518
$445฿15.0K
33.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,171€1,025
$2,040฿68.7K
-42.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$914€800
$1,492฿50.2K
-38.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,876€2,516
$3,483฿117.2K
-17.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,375€2,078
$2,577฿86.7K
-7.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Spezia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,767€1,546
$500฿16.8K
253.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
5.33
-20.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Spezia: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $761 in La Spezia versus $626 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 253% higher in La Spezia, 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 $81.0 in La Spezia versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $289 – 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
La Spezia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than La Spezia?
Yes – La Spezia is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,697 per month in La Spezia and $1,875 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 Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $573 per month in La Spezia and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in La Spezia and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 15% more in La Spezia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in La Spezia or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in La Spezia at $1,798. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Spezia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Spezia or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Spezia 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Spezia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.