Cost of Living Comparison Between Massa and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Massa and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Massa versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,663 in Massa versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,606 in Massa versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Massa is roughly 38% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Massa is 29% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53 €15.35
$4.55 ฿153
285.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 €65.5
$46.18 ฿1,553
61.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 €9.67
$8.84 ฿297
24.89%
Cappuccino
$2.17 €1.90
$3.06 ฿103
-29.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.11
$0.73 ฿24.40
230.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 €0.99
$0.40 ฿13.39
182.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 €4.01
$2.43 ฿81.8
88.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 €4.93
$3.78 ฿127
48.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.38
$2.26 ฿76.0
-30.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 €2.26
$1.81 ฿60.9
42.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.45
$2.25 ฿75.8
24.44%
Eggs
$5.16 €4.52
$2.25 ฿75.5
129.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.23 €18.59
$19.51 ฿656
8.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 €11.63
$3.65 ฿123
263.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.87 €15.65
$13.05 ฿439
36.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$3.23 ฿109
-23.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.87
$1.62 ฿54.4
32.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.38 ฿80.1
-15.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.92 €2.56
$2.03 ฿68.1
43.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 €1.44
$1.53 ฿51.6
7.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 €1.17
$1.50 ฿50.5
-10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 €1.49
$0.98 ฿32.91
73.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.53
$0.52 ฿17.39
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96 €6.10
$4.44 ฿149
56.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.11 €7.10
$18.32 ฿616
-55.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.86 ฿62.7
-6.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 €1.68
$2.68 ฿90.1
-28.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Massa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 €1.49
$1.41 ฿47.46
20.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.35 €37.97
$11.70 ฿393
270.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 €5.10
$3.11 ฿105
87.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 €1.27
$1.04 ฿35.06
39.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.66 €25.10
$14.11 ฿474
103.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.83
$1.31 ฿44.10
59.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K €23.1K
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K €30.2K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
3.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 €159
$122 ฿4,118
48.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.33 €13.43
$13.59 ฿457
12.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.67 €25.98
$18.70 ฿629
58.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.9 €48.04
$60.5 ฿2,034
-9.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.98 €20.13
$16.98 ฿571
35.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55 €9.24
$9.07 ฿305
16.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$658 €576
$706 ฿23.8K
-6.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,623 €4,049
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-70.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8 €79.5
$58.6 ฿1,969
55.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.00 €39.41
$35.36 ฿1,189
27.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 €85.8
$115 ฿3,883
-15.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169 €148
$83.7 ฿2,816
101.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Massa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €669
$626 ฿21.0K
22.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 €510
$445 ฿15.0K
30.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 €1,062
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-40.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 €810
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-38.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,939 €2,574
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-15.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,050 €1,795
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-20.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,742 €1,525
$500 ฿16.8K
248.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.83
5.33
-9.38%

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

Last update for Massa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Massa and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Massa pays 248% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Massa vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 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
Massa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Massa and in Phuket?
Massa and Phuket differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,720 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Massa or Phuket?
Average pay runs 248% higher in Massa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Massa and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Massa versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $75.0 in Massa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Massa or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,720 per month in Massa versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,720 in Massa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Massa. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Massa 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 Massa or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Massa 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: Massa or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Massa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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