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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,224 per month in Lamia vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,910 per month in Lamia vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,596 per month in Lamia vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Lamia is about 1% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lamia and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Lamia 11% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.00 €14.82
$4.41 ฿147
285.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 €51.1
$32.26 ฿1,077
81.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 €7.47
$8.93 ฿298
-4.03%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.90 ฿96.6
6.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.28
$0.88 ฿29.38
67.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 €0.44
$0.48 ฿16.06
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.17 €4.51
$2.35 ฿78.5
120.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20 €5.41
$3.72 ฿124
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.43
$1.87 ฿62.3
-12.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 €0.98
$1.47 ฿48.94
-23.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 €1.88
$1.55 ฿51.8
39.35%
Eggs
$3.68 €3.21
$2.10 ฿70.1
75.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.56 €8.33
$19.59 ฿654
-51.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.44 €5.62
$3.42 ฿114
88.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.52 €8.30
$11.38 ฿380
-16.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 €1.79
$2.98 ฿99.6
-31.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 €1.92
$1.68 ฿56.2
30.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 €1.74
$2.21 ฿73.7
-9.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 €1.90
$2.16 ฿72.1
0.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 €1.05
$1.52 ฿50.9
-21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.34 ฿44.67
-14.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 €0.48
$1.13 ฿37.67
-51.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.77
$0.55 ฿18.24
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.19 €4.52
$4.26 ฿142
21.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.00 €6.10
$19.09 ฿637
-63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 €0.87
$1.78 ฿59.4
-43.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.78 ฿92.9
-17.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 €1.20
$2.23 ฿74.4
-38.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.62 €43.25
$22.74 ฿759
118.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 €3.83
$3.03 ฿101
44.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 €0.97
$1.02 ฿34.15
8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.28 €15.06
$3.89 ฿130
344.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 €1.94
$1.49 ฿49.77
48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K €24.9K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
7.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K €24.4K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
3.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 €178
$102 ฿3,420
99.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.01 €20.06
$11.33 ฿378
103.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.33 €27.31
$17.40 ฿581
80.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.54 €40.56
$52.1 ฿1,738
-10.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.95 €22.62
$11.07 ฿370
134.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93 €6.91
$7.69 ฿257
3.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 €254
$561 ฿18.7K
-48.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,802 €5,930
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-40.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.80 €36.43
$63.0 ฿2,104
-33.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.47 €38.76
$29.52 ฿986
50.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 €60.1
$98.0 ฿3,272
-29.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 €116
$88.5 ฿2,954
50.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 €440
$738 ฿24.6K
-31.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 €200
$482 ฿16.1K
-52.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 €460
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-74.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 €353
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-66.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,775 €2,419
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-23.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,297 €2,003
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-11.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lamia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,164 €1,015
$494 ฿16.5K
135.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.4
5.57
-3.05%

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

Last update for Lamia: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Lamia versus $738 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 136% 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 $59.0 in Lamia versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Lamia vs $274 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 1% 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 and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,836 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 in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 22% 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 and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Lamia and $32.00 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 in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lamia, where all-in costs run around $1,224, 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 $1,224 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 to 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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