Cost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,017 in Mdina versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,028 in Mdina versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,039 in Mdina versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Mdina is roughly 61% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mdina is 51% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.17€18.54
$4.55฿153
365.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.2€82.5
$46.18฿1,553
104.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46€10.04
$8.84฿297
29.64%
Cappuccino
$3.04€2.66
$3.06฿103
-0.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.72
$0.73฿24.40
326.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€1.98
$0.40฿13.39
465.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.69€4.10
$2.43฿81.8
93.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€4.02
$3.78฿127
21.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.23
$2.26฿76.0
-38.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24€1.08
$1.81฿60.9
-31.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.40€3.86
$2.25฿75.8
95.56%
Eggs
$4.72€4.14
$2.25฿75.5
109.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42€9.13
$19.51฿656
-46.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.42
$3.65฿123
163.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.14€12.38
$13.05฿439
8.35%
Apples(1kg)
$4.45€3.90
$3.23฿109
37.77%
Banana(1kg)
$3.16€2.76
$1.62฿54.4
95.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32€2.91
$2.38฿80.1
39.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68€3.22
$2.03฿68.1
81.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.58€2.26
$1.53฿51.6
68.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.18
$1.50฿50.5
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41€2.12
$0.98฿32.91
145.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.08
$0.52฿17.39
138.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.56
$4.44฿149
43.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.18€7.17
$18.32฿616
-55.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.69
$1.86฿62.7
3.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.96
$2.68฿90.1
-16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70€2.37
$1.41฿47.46
91.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70฿393
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.96
$3.11฿105
81.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.13€3.62
$1.04฿35.06
297.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.29€43.17
$14.11฿474
249.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.32
$1.31฿44.10
15.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$27.8K฿935.4K
38.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K€33.1K
$33.2K฿1.1M
13.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.9€80.4
$122฿4,118
-24.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.86€25.28
$13.59฿457
112.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.04€40.32
$18.70฿629
146.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.8€56.7
$60.5฿2,034
7.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.33€20.43
$16.98฿571
37.40%
Cinema Ticket
$10.60€9.29
$9.07฿305
16.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$434€380
$706฿23.8K
-38.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9K€9,538
$15.8K฿531.5K
-31.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€81.2
$58.6฿1,969
58.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.66€33.86
$35.36฿1,189
9.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.0
$115฿3,883
-10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101€88.4
$83.7฿2,816
20.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,124€984
$626฿21.0K
79.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$930€814
$445฿15.0K
108.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,005€1,756
$2,040฿68.6K
-1.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509€1,322
$1,492฿50.2K
1.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,447€3,894
$3,483฿117.1K
27.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,410€2,111
$2,577฿86.7K
-6.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,542€1,351
$500฿16.8K
208.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
5.33
-43.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mdina: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,124 in Mdina and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mdina pays 208% 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: $94.0 in Mdina vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 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
Mdina vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mdina and in Phuket?
Mdina and Phuket differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($2,017 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: Mdina or Phuket?
Average pay runs 208% higher in Mdina, 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 Mdina and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,124 in Mdina versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Mdina. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mdina or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,017 per month in Mdina versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 61% 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 $2,017 in Mdina, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mdina. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mdina 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 Mdina or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mdina 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: Mdina or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Mdina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.