Cost of Living Comparison Between Maltepe and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Maltepe and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,098 per month in Maltepe vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,683 per month in Maltepe vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,268 per month in Maltepe vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Maltepe is about 13% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Maltepe and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Maltepe17% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.29₺535
$4.48฿150
152.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.60₺1,402
$45.59฿1,525
-35.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18₺293
$8.76฿293
-29.45%
Cappuccino
$2.34₺111
$2.97฿99.3
-21.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₺49.23
$0.69฿22.96
50.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₺17.12
$0.39฿13.07
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06₺97.4
$2.53฿84.7
-18.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48₺118
$3.75฿125
-33.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94₺44.62
$2.15฿71.8
-56.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₺32.27
$1.82฿60.7
-62.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20₺104
$2.18฿73.1
0.92%
Eggs
$2.13₺101
$2.25฿75.2
-5.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.66₺457
$20.00฿669
-51.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.90₺232
$3.63฿121
34.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.55₺926
$13.56฿453
44.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46₺69.1
$3.24฿109
-54.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28₺108
$1.64฿54.7
39.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₺60.7
$2.33฿78.0
-45.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65₺78.3
$2.07฿69.3
-20.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₺33.63
$1.55฿51.8
-54.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₺32.21
$1.46฿48.67
-53.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66₺31.16
$0.98฿32.94
-32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₺27.24
$0.48฿16.13
20.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18₺103
$4.35฿146
-49.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.74₺509
$18.57฿621
-42.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24₺106
$1.86฿62.1
20.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17₺150
$2.65฿88.8
19.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66₺31.41
$1.42฿47.40
-53.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.02₺1,469
$11.57฿387
168.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09₺51.7
$3.17฿106
-65.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58₺27.69
$1.03฿34.51
-43.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.70₺412
$13.89฿465
-37.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₺57.3
$1.34฿44.96
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2K₺2.2M
$27.8K฿929.6K
66.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6K₺2.0M
$33.4K฿1.1M
27.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.1₺2,943
$123฿4,116
-49.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.38₺539
$13.77฿461
-17.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.98₺615
$18.33฿613
-29.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.70₺2,070
$60.7฿2,030
-27.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿574
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81₺370
$8.87฿297
-11.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$949₺44.9K
$688฿23.0K
37.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,109₺289.4K
$15.8K฿527.8K
-61.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.32₺1,910
$59.3฿1,984
-32.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.29₺2,192
$34.69฿1,160
33.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.1₺2,752
$115฿3,853
-49.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105₺4,970
$83.8฿2,802
25.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₺23.8K
$621฿20.8K
-18.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393₺18.6K
$446฿14.9K
-11.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878₺41.6K
$2,034฿68.0K
-56.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718₺34.0K
$1,496฿50.0K
-51.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,334₺63.2K
$3,455฿115.6K
-61.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,015₺48.1K
$2,531฿84.7K
-59.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maltepe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
32
5.33
500.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maltepe: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $503 in Maltepe versus $621 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Maltepe versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $291 – making Maltepe 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
Maltepe vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Maltepe?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,648 per month in Maltepe and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maltepe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Maltepe and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Maltepe or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Maltepe and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Maltepe or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maltepe, where all-in costs run around $1,098, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Maltepe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Maltepe or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maltepe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Maltepe or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maltepe. 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.