Cost of Living Comparison Between Marabella and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Marabella and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Marabella versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,601 in Marabella versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,284 in Marabella versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Marabella costs roughly 27% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marabella 31% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.53 TTD 71.0
$4.55 ฿153
131.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3 TTD 588
$46.18 ฿1,554
88.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.31 TTD 49.28
$8.84 ฿298
-17.31%
Cappuccino
$3.62 TTD 24.38
$3.06 ฿103
18.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TTD 7.06
$0.73 ฿24.42
43.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 TTD 5.58
$0.40 ฿13.40
107.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 TTD 12.30
$2.43 ฿81.8
-24.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 TTD 21.19
$3.78 ฿127
-16.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.71 TTD 18.28
$2.26 ฿76.0
19.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 TTD 18.75
$1.81 ฿60.9
53.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.61 TTD 17.60
$2.25 ฿75.8
16.00%
Eggs
$5.16 TTD 34.80
$2.25 ฿75.6
129.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.76 TTD 52.3
$19.51 ฿656
-60.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.37 TTD 69.9
$3.65 ฿123
184.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.02 TTD 94.5
$13.05 ฿439
7.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.73 TTD 38.59
$3.23 ฿109
77.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 TTD 16.85
$1.62 ฿54.4
54.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 TTD 28.91
$2.38 ฿80.2
80.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 TTD 32.17
$2.03 ฿68.2
134.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 TTD 9.77
$1.53 ฿51.6
-5.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 TTD 11.15
$1.50 ฿50.5
10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 TTD 12.62
$0.98 ฿32.93
90.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 TTD 9.43
$0.52 ฿17.40
169.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87 TTD 39.59
$4.44 ฿149
32.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.46 TTD 131
$18.32 ฿616
6.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 TTD 14.13
$1.86 ฿62.7
12.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 TTD 18.20
$2.68 ฿90.2
0.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.41 ฿47.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿394
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 TTD 6.84
$3.11 ฿105
-67.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 TTD 8.32
$1.04 ฿35.08
18.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.00 TTD 101
$14.11 ฿475
6.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 TTD 7.36
$1.31 ฿44.13
-16.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K TTD 225.8K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K TTD 254.0K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
13.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.2 TTD 540
$122 ฿4,120
-34.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.57 TTD 314
$13.59 ฿457
242.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 TTD 419
$18.70 ฿629
232.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.5 ฿2,035
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.70 TTD 65.4
$9.07 ฿305
6.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$326 TTD 2,199
$706 ฿23.8K
-53.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,349 TTD 49.5K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-53.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 TTD 406
$58.6 ฿1,970
2.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.34 TTD 258
$35.36 ฿1,190
8.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 TTD 966
$115 ฿3,885
24.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 TTD 879
$83.7 ฿2,818
55.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$626 ฿21.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$445 ฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marabella
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.38
5.33
0.94%

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

Last update for Marabella: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $87.0 in Marabella vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Marabella vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marabella and in Phuket?
Marabella and Phuket differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($918 vs $1,250 including rent). Marabella is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Marabella compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Marabella and $1,875 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 30% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Marabella or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Marabella versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $918 in Marabella versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marabella but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Marabella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marabella and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Marabella or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marabella 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.
Where should expats move: Marabella or Phuket?
Expats usually find Marabella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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