Cost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,051 in Mdina versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,130 in Mdina versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,209 in Mdina versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Mdina is roughly 64% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mdina is 49% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15 €17.33
$4.56 ฿150
341.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.1 €78.3
$32.62 ฿1,073
179.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.13 €12.15
$8.90 ฿293
58.76%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$2.80 ฿92.2
-0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 €2.78
$0.88 ฿28.94
267.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 €2.02
$0.49 ฿16.08
379.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 €3.97
$2.39 ฿78.5
93.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 €4.52
$3.71 ฿122
41.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.20
$1.79 ฿58.8
-21.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.44 ฿47.40
-4.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 €3.89
$1.58 ฿52.1
186.08%
Eggs
$4.50 €3.87
$2.13 ฿69.9
111.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.72 €7.50
$19.92 ฿655
-56.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.89 €9.36
$3.43 ฿113
217.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.99 €16.33
$11.33 ฿372
67.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.42 €3.80
$2.95 ฿97.0
49.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 €2.51
$1.72 ฿56.6
69.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 €3.18
$2.32 ฿76.5
59.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 €3.04
$2.08 ฿68.4
70.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$1.47 ฿48.34
80.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.74
$1.36 ฿44.65
49.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 €2.13
$1.10 ฿36.13
125.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$0.57 ฿18.89
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95 €5.97
$4.27 ฿140
62.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.49 €7.30
$18.42 ฿606
-53.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.87 ฿61.5
-2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.92 ฿96.1
-16.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.22 ฿73.0
7.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.90 ฿753
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.84 €5.02
$3.03 ฿99.6
92.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.30 €1.98
$1.07 ฿35.32
114.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.63 €23.76
$3.93 ฿129
603.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 €1.30
$1.49 ฿49.06
2.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K €33.4K
$27.1K ฿892.0K
43.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K €34.3K
$27.5K ฿902.6K
45.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 €92.5
$103 ฿3,380
4.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.82 €23.06
$10.99 ฿361
144.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.41 €38.18
$17.51 ฿576
153.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.8 €55.7
$53.5 ฿1,760
21.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20 ฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.54 €9.06
$7.48 ฿246
40.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$378 €325
$557 ฿18.3K
-32.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K €10.0K
$11.9K ฿389.7K
-1.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1 €79.2
$64.1 ฿2,107
43.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.89 €36.87
$29.07 ฿956
47.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.3
$96.0 ฿3,155
8.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 €69.8
$90.3 ฿2,970
-10.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 €929
$730 ฿24.0K
48.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 €871
$500 ฿16.4K
102.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 €1,355
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,462 €1,257
$1,209 ฿39.8K
20.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,468 €2,981
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-3.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,639 €2,269
$2,512 ฿82.6K
5.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mdina
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,548 €1,331
$503 ฿16.6K
207.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.9
5.57
-47.94%

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

Last update for Mdina: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,081 in Mdina and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mdina pays 207% 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: $91.0 in Mdina vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 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
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 64% in total monthly costs ($2,051 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: Mdina or Phuket?
Average pay runs 207% 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: $1,081 in Mdina versus $730 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 25% 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 $2,051 per month in Mdina versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 64% 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 $2,051 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 64% less than in Mdina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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