Cost of Living Comparison Between Mestre and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mestre and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,955 per month in Mestre vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,009 per month in Mestre vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,063 per month in Mestre vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Mestre costs about 55% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mestre sits 45% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.31 €20.08
$4.56 ฿149
411.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.3 €79.5
$46.63 ฿1,519
97.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 €10.65
$8.47 ฿276
45.93%
Cappuccino
$2.11 €1.82
$3.03 ฿98.6
-30.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 €2.68
$0.69 ฿22.45
350.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 €1.50
$0.37 ฿11.92
372.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 €4.96
$2.49 ฿81.0
131.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.90
$3.66 ฿119
23.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.18 ฿71.0
-24.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.96 €2.55
$1.90 ฿62.0
55.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.91 €2.51
$2.20 ฿71.6
32.27%
Eggs
$4.26 €3.67
$2.22 ฿72.4
91.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.20 €13.96
$19.99 ฿651
-18.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.31 €10.60
$3.66 ฿119
236.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.60 €12.58
$13.25 ฿432
10.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 €2.53
$3.23 ฿105
-9.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.70 ฿55.3
18.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 €2.26
$2.39 ฿78.0
9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 €2.25
$2.08 ฿67.7
25.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$1.59 ฿51.8
16.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.48 ฿48.31
14.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.55
$1.03 ฿33.54
74.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 €0.42
$0.52 ฿16.83
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.60 €5.68
$4.25 ฿138
55.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.12 €6.14
$18.79 ฿612
-62.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.76 ฿57.2
-16.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.76
$2.76 ฿89.8
-26.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.36 ฿44.32
30.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.01 €40.51
$11.36 ฿370
313.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.10 €6.12
$3.14 ฿102
126.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.04 ฿33.74
41.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.76 €40.29
$13.77 ฿448
239.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.34 ฿43.79
50.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K €26.3K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
10.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K €24.4K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-16.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €194
$124 ฿4,025
82.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.54 €11.66
$13.52 ฿440
0.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.65 €22.96
$18.69 ฿609
42.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 €50.8
$61.8 ฿2,013
-4.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.71 €17.84
$17.25 ฿562
20.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.35 €9.78
$9.14 ฿298
24.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$582 €501
$703 ฿22.9K
-17.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,853 €5,043
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-63.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.9 €70.6
$59.5 ฿1,937
37.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.07 €39.69
$35.07 ฿1,142
31.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 €84.3
$115 ฿3,754
-15.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 €125
$84.1 ฿2,737
72.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$917 €790
$619 ฿20.1K
48.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$750 €646
$433 ฿14.1K
73.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,369
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-22.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 €1,110
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-14.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,956 €1,686
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-46.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,598 €1,377
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-39.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mestre
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,010 €1,732
$507 ฿16.5K
296.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.9
5.33
-8.07%

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

Last update for Mestre: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $917 in Mestre versus $619 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 296% higher in Mestre, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Mestre versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $293 – 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
Mestre vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mestre and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,955 in Mestre, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 55% apart. Mestre costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mestre compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,932 per month in Mestre and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mestre 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mestre or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,955 in Mestre and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Mestre and Phuket?
Public transport costs about 314% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 Mestre at $1,955. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mestre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mestre and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $1,955 in Mestre. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mestre 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 Mestre and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mestre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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