Cost of Living Comparison Between Massa and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Massa and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,602 in Massa versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,614 in Massa versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,626 in Massa versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Massa is roughly 28% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Massa is 17% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.14
$4.56฿150
286.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.0
$32.62฿1,073
114.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.02€10.33
$8.90฿293
35.06%
Cappuccino
$2.28€1.96
$2.80฿92.2
-18.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.07
$0.88฿28.94
173.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$0.49฿16.08
132.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.76€4.09
$2.39฿78.5
99.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48€5.57
$3.71฿122
74.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.29
$1.79฿58.8
-16.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97€2.56
$1.44฿47.40
106.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81€2.41
$1.58฿52.1
77.85%
Eggs
$4.80€4.13
$2.13฿69.9
125.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.05€16.38
$19.92฿655
-4.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.29€11.43
$3.43฿113
287.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.58€15.12
$11.33฿372
55.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.95฿97.0
-21.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.48
$1.72฿56.6
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.32฿76.5
-16.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$2.08฿68.4
25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63€1.40
$1.47฿48.34
10.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$1.36฿44.65
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78€1.53
$1.10฿36.13
61.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.57฿18.89
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15€6.15
$4.27฿140
67.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.27€7.11
$18.42฿606
-55.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69€1.45
$1.87฿61.5
-9.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$2.92฿96.1
-34.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Massa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.75€1.50
$2.22฿73.0
-21.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.94€37.78
$22.90฿753
91.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.12
$3.03฿99.6
96.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55€1.34
$1.07฿35.32
44.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.60€24.58
$3.93฿129
627.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.49฿49.06
38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.2K
$27.1K฿892.0K
38.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.3K
$27.5K฿902.6K
32.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231€198
$103฿3,380
124.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.25€10.53
$10.99฿361
11.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.28€25.17
$17.51฿576
67.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.9€49.76
$53.5฿1,760
8.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.65€22.06
$11.20฿368
129.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99€8.59
$7.48฿246
33.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576€495
$557฿18.3K
3.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,726€4,063
$11.9K฿389.7K
-60.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7€84.0
$64.1฿2,107
52.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.97€37.80
$29.07฿956
51.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.7
$96.0฿3,155
8.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161€139
$90.3฿2,970
78.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Massa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$647€557
$730฿24.0K
-11.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$444€382
$500฿16.4K
-11.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,099€945
$2,090฿68.7K
-47.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$896€771
$1,209฿39.8K
-25.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,043€2,616
$3,596฿118.2K
-15.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,137€1,838
$2,512฿82.6K
-14.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Massa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,746€1,501
$503฿16.6K
246.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
5.57
-37.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Massa: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $647 in Massa and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Massa pays 247% 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: $70.0 in Massa vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $273 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 28% in total monthly costs ($1,602 vs $1,253 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 247% 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: $647 in Massa versus $730 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 $33.00 versus $70.0 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 $1,602 per month in Massa versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 28% 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,602 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 28% less than in Massa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.