Cost of Living Comparison Between Leova and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Leova and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,155 in Leova versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,969 in Leova versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Leova versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Leova costs roughly 8% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Leova 14% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 MDL 183
$4.56 ฿149
132.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.66 MDL 599
$46.63 ฿1,519
-25.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.53 MDL 165
$8.47 ฿276
12.51%
Cappuccino
$0.87 MDL 15.01
$3.03 ฿98.6
-71.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 MDL 8.76
$0.69 ฿22.45
-26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MDL 7.28
$0.37 ฿11.92
13.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 MDL 45.09
$2.49 ฿81.0
4.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 MDL 48.95
$3.66 ฿119
-22.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 MDL 30.99
$2.18 ฿71.0
-17.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MDL 10.36
$1.90 ฿62.0
-68.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MDL 24.49
$2.20 ฿71.6
-35.45%
Eggs
$1.37 MDL 23.58
$2.22 ฿72.4
-38.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 MDL 247
$19.99 ฿651
-28.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.41 MDL 41.57
$3.66 ฿119
-34.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.08 MDL 70.5
$13.25 ฿432
-69.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 MDL 23.32
$3.23 ฿105
-58.20%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 MDL 15.53
$1.70 ฿55.3
-47.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 MDL 16.45
$2.39 ฿78.0
-60.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 MDL 20.52
$2.08 ฿67.7
-42.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 MDL 27.79
$1.59 ฿51.8
1.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 MDL 10.21
$1.48 ฿48.31
-60.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 MDL 7.87
$1.03 ฿33.54
-55.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MDL 18.40
$0.52 ฿16.83
105.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MDL 82.8
$4.25 ฿138
12.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 MDL 271
$18.79 ฿612
-16.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 MDL 20.01
$1.76 ฿57.2
-34.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 MDL 48.01
$2.76 ฿89.8
0.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Leova
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MDL 6.78
$1.36 ฿44.32
-71.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.96 MDL 517
$11.36 ฿370
163.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 MDL 49.50
$3.14 ฿102
-8.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MDL 8.87
$1.04 ฿33.74
-50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 MDL 58.9
$13.77 ฿448
-75.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MDL 25.67
$1.34 ฿43.79
11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K MDL 594.8K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
24.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K MDL 614.7K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
5.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 MDL 3,363
$124 ฿4,025
57.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.81 MDL 100
$13.52 ฿440
-57.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.97 MDL 379
$18.69 ฿609
17.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.40 MDL 611
$61.8 ฿2,013
-42.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.48 MDL 198
$17.25 ฿562
-33.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 MDL 81.2
$9.14 ฿298
-48.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$703 ฿22.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 MDL 1,525
$59.5 ฿1,937
48.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 MDL 1,008
$35.07 ฿1,142
66.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 MDL 1,724
$115 ฿3,754
-13.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 MDL 2,034
$84.1 ฿2,737
40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leova
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$864 MDL 14.9K
$619 ฿20.1K
39.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MDL 6,449
$433 ฿14.1K
-13.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 MDL 26.7K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-24.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 MDL 20.0K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-23.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,523 MDL 43.6K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-30.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,978 MDL 34.2K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-24.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 MDL 11.4K
$507 ฿16.5K
30.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.19
5.33
34.90%

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

Last update for Leova: June 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $864 in Leova and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Leova pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Leova vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $293 per month, with Leova cheaper across the board.

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
Leova vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Leova?
Leova is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Leova or Phuket?
Leova pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Leova and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $864 in Leova versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Leova and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Leova vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,155 per month in Leova versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Leova or Phuket?
At $1,155 in Leova versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Leova but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Leova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Leova or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Leova is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Leova or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Leova and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Leova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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