Cost of Living Comparison Between Melissia and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Melissia and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,552 in Melissia versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,317 in Melissia versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,081 in Melissia versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Melissia is roughly 23% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Melissia is 16% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.44 €11.58
$4.56 ฿149
194.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6 €49.61
$46.63 ฿1,519
23.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.20 €7.93
$8.47 ฿276
8.62%
Cappuccino
$4.12 €3.55
$3.03 ฿98.6
35.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.46
$0.69 ฿22.45
146.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.48
$0.37 ฿11.92
51.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 €4.85
$2.49 ฿81.0
126.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 €5.02
$3.66 ฿119
59.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.67
$2.18 ฿71.0
-11.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 €1.33
$1.90 ฿62.0
-18.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.81 €2.42
$2.20 ฿71.6
27.73%
Eggs
$5.15 €4.44
$2.22 ฿72.4
131.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.75 €11.84
$19.99 ฿651
-31.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.30 €8.87
$3.66 ฿119
181.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.86 €12.80
$13.25 ฿432
12.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$3.23 ฿105
-29.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.70 ฿55.3
13.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 €0.96
$2.39 ฿78.0
-53.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 €1.65
$2.08 ฿67.7
-8.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.59 ฿51.8
-13.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 €1.05
$1.48 ฿48.31
-18.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 €0.89
$1.03 ฿33.54
0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 €0.86
$0.52 ฿16.83
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68 €4.90
$4.25 ฿138
33.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.49 €9.04
$18.79 ฿612
-44.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.81
$1.76 ฿57.2
19.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.08
$2.76 ฿89.8
-12.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.36 ฿44.32
13.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.65 €39.33
$11.36 ฿370
301.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 €4.06
$3.14 ฿102
50.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.04 ฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 €11.75
$13.77 ฿448
-1.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.87
$1.34 ฿43.79
61.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K €25.1K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K €25.9K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-11.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 €254
$124 ฿4,025
138.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.19 €20.84
$13.52 ฿440
78.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.00 €26.71
$18.69 ฿609
65.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.83 €41.21
$61.8 ฿2,013
-22.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.29 €22.65
$17.25 ฿562
52.41%
Cinema Ticket
$10.04 €8.65
$9.14 ฿298
9.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$519 €447
$703 ฿22.9K
-26.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,589 €4,816
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-64.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 €96.6
$59.5 ฿1,937
88.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.97 €33.58
$35.07 ฿1,142
11.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 €85.4
$115 ฿3,754
-14.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €106
$84.1 ฿2,737
45.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 €427
$619 ฿20.1K
-19.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 €330
$433 ฿14.1K
-11.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 €658
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-62.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 €536
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-58.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,092 €2,664
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-15.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,515 €2,167
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-4.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melissia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,372 €1,182
$507 ฿16.5K
170.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
5.33
-6.38%

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

Last update for Melissia: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Melissia and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melissia pays 171% 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: $58.0 in Melissia vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $293 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
Melissia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Melissia or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Melissia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Melissia or Phuket?
Melissia pays 171% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Melissia vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $495 in Melissia versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Melissia compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,552 per month in Melissia versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Melissia vs Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 302% less than in Melissia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Melissia or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,552 in Melissia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Melissia. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Melissia or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Melissia compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Melissia 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Melissia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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