Cost of Living Comparison Between Lamia and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Lamia and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Lamia vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,855 per month in Lamia vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,535 per month in Lamia vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Lamia is about 5% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lamia and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Lamia 12% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07 €14.61
$4.63 ฿151
268.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6 €49.33
$46.84 ฿1,532
23.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 €7.49
$8.84 ฿289
-1.02%
Cappuccino
$3.27 €2.80
$3.00 ฿98.0
9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.28
$0.74 ฿24.25
101.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 €0.43
$0.37 ฿11.95
35.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 €4.37
$2.44 ฿79.8
109.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 €4.92
$3.61 ฿118
59.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 €1.26
$2.26 ฿73.9
-34.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 €1.02
$1.84 ฿60.1
-35.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 €1.85
$2.24 ฿73.4
-3.57%
Eggs
$3.59 €3.07
$2.32 ฿75.7
54.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 €8.54
$19.67 ฿643
-49.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.30 €5.39
$3.65 ฿119
72.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 €8.37
$13.10 ฿428
-25.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$3.39 ฿111
-38.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.64 ฿53.7
18.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$2.41 ฿79.0
-29.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 €1.83
$2.03 ฿66.4
5.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.56 ฿50.9
-17.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 €0.97
$1.50 ฿48.94
-24.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 €0.51
$1.02 ฿33.50
-41.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.49 ฿16.00
75.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 €4.53
$4.45 ฿145
18.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 €6.35
$18.88 ฿617
-60.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.87
$1.78 ฿58.1
-42.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.00
$2.75 ฿90.1
-15.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 €1.22
$1.40 ฿45.81
2.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.17 €40.38
$11.48 ฿376
310.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.52 €3.87
$3.12 ฿102
44.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.00 ฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.55 €11.60
$14.09 ฿461
-3.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.76
$1.35 ฿44.19
52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K €24.8K
$27.2K ฿888.9K
6.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K €23.9K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-15.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 €172
$125 ฿4,087
60.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.34 €19.98
$13.57 ฿444
72.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.06 €25.73
$18.52 ฿606
62.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.36 €40.54
$61.5 ฿2,010
-22.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22 €22.44
$16.84 ฿551
55.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20 €7.02
$9.19 ฿300
-10.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 €249
$698 ฿22.8K
-58.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,858 €5,870
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-56.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.91 €36.73
$57.8 ฿1,889
-25.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.58 €31.31
$35.24 ฿1,152
3.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 €59.9
$113 ฿3,699
-38.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 €97.7
$86.4 ฿2,825
32.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 €428
$616 ฿20.1K
-18.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 €200
$446 ฿14.6K
-47.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$514 €440
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-74.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 €344
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-73.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,085 €2,641
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-18.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,538 €2,173
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-4.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,179 €1,009
$524 ฿17.1K
125.08%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Lamia 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.

Salaries run about 125% 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 $58.0 in Lamia versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Lamia vs $292 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 5% 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 $1,763 per month in Lamia and $1,847 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 31% 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 $58.0 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 $1,176, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $1,176 versus $1,232 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.

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