😐A single person spends $1,780 per month in Lelystad vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,755 per month in Lelystad vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,731 per month in Lelystad vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Lelystad costs about 41% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lelystad sits 29% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.93€19.77
$4.66฿154
392.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9€74.0
$32.22฿1,065
166.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.09€12.15
$8.68฿287
62.33%
Cappuccino
$4.25€3.66
$2.90฿95.8
46.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71€2.33
$0.84฿27.89
222.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43€2.10
$0.49฿16.16
395.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.86
$2.48฿82.0
127.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56€3.93
$3.73฿123
22.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.09
$1.89฿62.3
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.47
$1.41฿46.54
20.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52€2.17
$1.62฿53.6
55.56%
Eggs
$4.77€4.11
$2.24฿74.1
112.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17€6.18
$19.84฿656
-63.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.66€12.64
$3.48฿115
321.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.24€14.86
$11.37฿376
51.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$2.90฿95.8
-22.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$1.72฿57.0
48.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92€1.66
$2.27฿75.1
-15.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.57€3.08
$2.13฿70.4
67.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.47฿48.72
23.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.42฿46.92
27.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28€1.10
$1.10฿36.25
16.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.71
$0.60฿19.76
38.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.27€8.85
$4.31฿142
138.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.05
$18.60฿615
-62.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.20
$1.80฿59.5
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50€2.15
$2.97฿98.0
-15.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.25฿74.2
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$116€99.9
$23.49฿776
393.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.83€3.30
$3.10฿102
23.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.78€2.39
$1.08฿35.56
157.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.34€23.57
$3.87฿128
606.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24€1.93
$1.43฿47.16
56.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.5K
$27.8K฿918.0K
23.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K€34.6K
$27.0K฿891.5K
48.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$248€213
$105฿3,462
136.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.99€12.92
$11.39฿376
31.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.63€28.99
$17.54฿580
91.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.01€38.80
$54.3฿1,795
-17.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.44฿378
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.89€11.97
$7.78฿257
78.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,850€2,456
$576฿19.0K
394.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,485€7,314
$11.6K฿382.7K
-26.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100€86.6
$63.6฿2,103
57.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.22€42.43
$29.10฿961
69.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3€84.7
$96.2฿3,179
2.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$90.0฿2,974
33.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693€597
$733฿24.2K
-5.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459€395
$501฿16.5K
-8.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385€1,194
$2,126฿70.2K
-34.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$830€715
$1,252฿41.4K
-33.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,534฿116.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,622฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lelystad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,471€2,130
$508฿16.8K
386.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.21
5.57
-42.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lelystad: September 5, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Lelystad versus $733 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 387% higher in Lelystad, 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 $86.0 in Lelystad versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $275 – 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
Lelystad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelystad or Phuket?
Lelystad costs about 41% more than Phuket, 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 Lelystad and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,670 per month in Lelystad and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lelystad or Phuket?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Lelystad and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Lelystad and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lelystad compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,780 in Lelystad and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lelystad or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Lelystad at $1,780. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lelystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lelystad or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,780 in Lelystad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lelystad 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 Lelystad or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lelystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.