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: $1,161 in Leova versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,992 in Leova versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,823 in Leova versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Leova costs roughly 6% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Leova 13% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90 MDL 189
$4.63 ฿151
135.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.31 MDL 611
$46.84 ฿1,523
-24.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 MDL 169
$8.84 ฿287
10.41%
Cappuccino
$0.86 MDL 14.81
$3.00 ฿97.4
-71.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MDL 8.97
$0.74 ฿24.11
-29.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MDL 7.31
$0.37 ฿11.88
13.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 MDL 46.78
$2.44 ฿79.3
10.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 MDL 48.42
$3.61 ฿117
-22.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 MDL 30.93
$2.26 ฿73.5
-20.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MDL 10.41
$1.84 ฿59.8
-67.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 MDL 23.72
$2.24 ฿73.0
-38.84%
Eggs
$1.42 MDL 24.64
$2.32 ฿75.3
-38.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.90 MDL 258
$19.67 ฿639
-24.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.37 MDL 41.09
$3.65 ฿119
-35.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.10 MDL 70.9
$13.10 ฿426
-68.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 MDL 24.38
$3.39 ฿110
-58.41%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 MDL 15.01
$1.64 ฿53.4
-46.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 MDL 16.96
$2.41 ฿78.5
-59.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 MDL 19.77
$2.03 ฿66.0
-43.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 MDL 27.57
$1.56 ฿50.6
1.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 MDL 10.28
$1.50 ฿48.66
-60.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 MDL 8.33
$1.02 ฿33.30
-52.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 MDL 17.72
$0.49 ฿15.91
108.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66 MDL 80.7
$4.45 ฿145
4.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.31 MDL 265
$18.88 ฿614
-18.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 MDL 19.90
$1.78 ฿57.7
-35.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 MDL 47.31
$2.75 ฿89.5
-0.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Leova
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 MDL 7.33
$1.40 ฿45.54
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.05 MDL 503
$11.48 ฿373
153.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 MDL 50.9
$3.12 ฿101
-5.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MDL 9.74
$1.00 ฿32.48
-44.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 MDL 59.0
$14.09 ฿458
-75.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 MDL 24.54
$1.35 ฿43.93
5.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MDL 614.7K
$27.2K ฿883.7K
30.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K MDL 634.0K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
11.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 MDL 3,428
$125 ฿4,063
58.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76 MDL 99.8
$13.57 ฿441
-57.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.25 MDL 368
$18.52 ฿602
14.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.52 MDL 615
$61.5 ฿1,999
-42.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.59 MDL 201
$16.84 ฿547
-31.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.64 MDL 80.3
$9.19 ฿299
-49.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$698 ฿22.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 MDL 1,494
$57.8 ฿1,878
49.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1 MDL 1,023
$35.24 ฿1,146
67.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 MDL 1,716
$113 ฿3,677
-12.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 MDL 2,011
$86.4 ฿2,808
34.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leova
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 MDL 14.9K
$616 ฿20.0K
39.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 MDL 6,342
$446 ฿14.5K
-17.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,572 MDL 27.2K
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-23.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MDL 19.9K
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,504 MDL 43.3K
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-33.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,008 MDL 34.8K
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-24.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leova
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$662 MDL 11.5K
$524 ฿17.0K
26.41%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $860 in Leova and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Leova pays 26% 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 $292 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Leova or Phuket?
Leova pays 26% 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: $860 in Leova versus $616 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 $1,161 per month in Leova versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 6% 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 $1,161 in Leova versus $1,232 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 6% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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