Cost of Living Comparison Between Lamia and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Lamia and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,190 per month in Lamia vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Lamia vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,545 per month in Lamia vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Lamia is about 6% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lamia and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Lamia11% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69€15.24
$4.56฿149
287.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2€49.29
$46.63฿1,519
22.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.54€7.35
$8.47฿276
0.83%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.67
$3.03฿98.6
2.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$0.69฿22.45
105.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.46
$0.37฿11.92
45.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07€4.37
$2.49฿81.0
103.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82€5.01
$3.66฿119
59.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$2.18฿71.0
-32.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18€1.02
$1.90฿62.0
-37.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$2.20฿71.6
-7.27%
Eggs
$3.54€3.05
$2.22฿72.4
59.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06€8.67
$19.99฿651
-49.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29€5.42
$3.66฿119
71.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.49€8.18
$13.25฿432
-28.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$3.23฿105
-36.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.70฿55.3
10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$2.39฿78.0
-32.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.08฿67.7
1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25€1.07
$1.59฿51.8
-21.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13€0.98
$1.48฿48.31
-23.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55€0.48
$1.03฿33.54
-46.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.70
$0.52฿16.83
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.23€4.50
$4.25฿138
23.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.00€6.03
$18.79฿612
-62.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.80
$1.76฿57.2
-47.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.76฿89.8
-17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$1.36฿44.32
3.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.39€39.97
$11.36฿370
308.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.87
$3.14฿102
43.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.04฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.47€11.61
$13.77฿448
-2.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.83
$1.34฿43.79
58.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.5K
$27.7K฿901.4K
2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€24.8K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-14.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203€175
$124฿4,025
64.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51€20.25
$13.52฿440
73.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95€26.66
$18.69฿609
65.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.59€41.86
$61.8฿2,013
-21.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.29€22.65
$17.25฿562
52.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.01€6.90
$9.14฿298
-12.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286€247
$703฿22.9K
-59.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,707€5,779
$15.9K฿517.0K
-57.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.81€36.02
$59.5฿1,937
-29.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.42€32.24
$35.07฿1,142
6.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3€60.6
$115฿3,754
-38.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€97.8
$84.1฿2,737
35.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499€430
$619฿20.1K
-19.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234€202
$433฿14.1K
-45.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$524€451
$2,062฿67.2K
-74.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405€349
$1,511฿49.2K
-73.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,086€2,659
$3,646฿118.7K
-15.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,471€2,129
$2,626฿85.5K
-5.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,171€1,009
$507฿16.5K
131.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
5.33
-12.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lamia: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $499 in Lamia 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 131% higher in Lamia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Lamia versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Lamia vs $293 in Phuket – so Lamia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Lamia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lamia or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 6% more than Lamia, 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 Lamia vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Lamia and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lamia or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lamia, 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 Lamia or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Phuket, 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 Lamia vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Lamia 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 $1,000/month in Lamia or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lamia, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Lamia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lamia or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lamia costs $1,190 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lamia 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 Lamia or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Lamia. 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.