😐A single person spends $1,891 per month in Merignac vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,935 per month in Merignac vs $2,078 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,978 per month in Merignac vs $2,896 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Merignac costs about 50% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Merignac sits 38% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07€14.60
$4.43฿145
285.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7€69.9
$35.07฿1,151
133.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.70€11.71
$8.96฿294
52.90%
Cappuccino
$4.19€3.59
$3.00฿98.4
39.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.54
$0.77฿25.33
285.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.25
$0.47฿15.44
210.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.44€6.36
$2.40฿78.6
210.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06€6.04
$3.75฿123
88.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.09
$1.82฿59.8
-30.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09€1.79
$1.42฿46.65
47.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71€2.32
$1.55฿50.8
74.84%
Eggs
$3.76€3.22
$2.13฿69.9
76.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.44€12.35
$19.76฿648
-26.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.50€12.40
$3.48฿114
316.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.74€17.74
$11.09฿364
87.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45€2.95
$2.91฿95.5
18.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.01
$1.66฿54.6
41.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40€2.91
$2.27฿74.5
49.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63€3.10
$2.10฿68.8
72.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.47฿48.24
55.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93€2.51
$1.41฿46.29
107.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.21
$1.09฿35.78
29.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.47
$0.54฿17.58
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.76€11.77
$4.48฿147
207.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53€8.15
$18.72฿614
-49.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.03
$1.84฿60.4
92.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48€2.98
$2.95฿96.7
17.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25€1.92
$2.26฿74.1
-0.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.6€46.68
$23.07฿757
136.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.29€1.96
$3.04฿99.9
-24.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90€1.63
$1.09฿35.82
74.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.58€33.86
$3.82฿125
936.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.86
$1.49฿48.79
46.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€30.4K
$27.4K฿900.3K
29.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.4K
$27.5K฿902.7K
24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222€190
$102฿3,340
118.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.72€13.45
$11.28฿370
39.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.90€27.29
$17.75฿582
79.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.10€34.31
$54.2฿1,777
-25.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.96฿360
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.95€10.22
$7.85฿258
52.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$826€707
$577฿18.9K
43.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,905
$11.6K฿381.6K
-10.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119€102
$65.4฿2,144
82.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.82€39.19
$28.89฿948
58.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.3
$99.1฿3,250
11.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€124
$90.3฿2,961
60.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$841€719
$756฿24.8K
11.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$641€548
$487฿16.0K
31.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339€1,145
$2,085฿68.4K
-35.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,143€978
$1,207฿39.6K
-5.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,272€3,654
$3,591฿117.8K
18.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,196€2,734
$2,610฿85.6K
22.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merignac
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$502฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.57
-31.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Merignac: August 16, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $841 in Merignac versus $756 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Merignac versus $35.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $272 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Merignac vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Merignac and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,891 in Merignac, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 50% apart. Merignac costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Merignac compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,837 per month in Merignac and $1,891 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Merignac and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Merignac and in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 137% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Merignac and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $826 per month in Merignac and $577 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Merignac at $1,891. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Merignac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Merignac and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $1,891 in Merignac. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Merignac or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Merignac and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Merignac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.