🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Monastir versus $1,270 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Monastir versus $2,304 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Monastir versus $3,339 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Monastir costs roughly 48% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Monastir51% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92TND 11.28
$4.66฿150
-15.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48TND 67.6
$46.44฿1,496
-49.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13TND 14.78
$8.68฿280
-40.90%
Cappuccino
$0.91TND 2.62
$2.95฿95.0
-69.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 2.00
$0.70฿22.52
-1.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.39฿12.70
-20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73TND 4.97
$2.53฿81.6
-31.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83TND 5.28
$3.78฿122
-51.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.42
$2.22฿71.5
-77.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15TND 0.44
$1.80฿57.8
-91.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78TND 5.11
$2.19฿70.4
-18.72%
Eggs
$1.48TND 4.27
$2.31฿74.5
-35.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.90TND 34.29
$19.34฿623
-38.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84TND 16.81
$3.77฿121
54.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.88TND 39.98
$13.22฿426
4.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53TND 4.40
$3.33฿107
-54.05%
Banana(1kg)
$3.05TND 8.79
$1.65฿53.1
84.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00TND 2.87
$2.29฿73.7
-56.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.03
$1.99฿64.1
-64.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.19
$1.53฿49.24
-50.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$1.51฿48.77
-61.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47TND 1.35
$1.03฿33.12
-54.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.82
$0.51฿16.57
-43.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31TND 9.52
$4.41฿142
-24.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.26TND 15.14
$19.41฿625
-72.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.44
$1.80฿58.0
-33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33TND 3.83
$2.68฿86.4
-50.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39TND 1.12
$1.43฿46.11
-72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.34TND 32.66
$11.70฿377
-3.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$3.04฿97.9
-89.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.89
$1.04฿33.37
-70.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.34TND 9.63
$13.68฿441
-75.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.35
$1.30฿41.85
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3KTND 118.8K
$27.9K฿898.9K
47.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KTND 103.3K
$33.0K฿1.1M
8.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.0TND 167
$123฿3,962
-52.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35TND 29.81
$13.82฿445
-25.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65TND 53.7
$18.86฿608
-1.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.73TND 59.7
$61.2฿1,970
-66.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69TND 19.26
$16.81฿541
-60.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30TND 15.25
$8.87฿286
-40.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105TND 303
$696฿22.4K
-84.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,223TND 9,283
$16.1K฿517.4K
-79.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.22TND 130
$59.3฿1,910
-23.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9TND 176
$34.85฿1,123
74.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113TND 325
$113฿3,646
-0.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2TND 239
$85.1฿2,740
-2.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204TND 587
$615฿19.8K
-66.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137TND 395
$448฿14.4K
-69.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477TND 1,374
$2,085฿67.2K
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 788
$1,496฿48.2K
-81.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,284TND 3,699
$3,734฿120.3K
-65.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$648TND 1,865
$2,662฿85.8K
-75.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$364TND 1,050
$534฿17.2K
-31.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
5.33
106.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monastir: April 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Monastir and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 46% 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: $23 in Monastir vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $291 per month, with Monastir 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
Monastir vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Monastir?
Monastir is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monastir or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 46% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Monastir and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $204 in Monastir versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Monastir vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $663 per month in Monastir versus $1,270 in Phuket – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Monastir runs roughly 3% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Monastir or Phuket?
At $663 in Monastir versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Monastir but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Monastir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Monastir or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Monastir is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Monastir or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Monastir 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Monastir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.