Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Monastir versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,094 in Monastir versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,510 in Monastir versus $3,291 in Phuket.

Living in Monastir costs roughly 46% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Monastir 49% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.95 TND 11.57
$4.53 ฿153
-12.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.15 TND 70.7
$46.36 ฿1,565
-47.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.21 TND 15.25
$8.65 ฿292
-39.77%
Cappuccino
$0.88 TND 2.57
$3.09 ฿104
-71.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 TND 2.02
$0.68 ฿22.89
1.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.84
$0.37 ฿12.44
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 TND 4.85
$2.42 ฿81.6
-31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 TND 5.31
$3.81 ฿129
-52.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.47 TND 1.37
$2.18 ฿73.5
-78.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 TND 0.44
$1.82 ฿61.3
-91.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 TND 5.06
$2.18 ฿73.5
-20.64%
Eggs
$1.56 TND 4.57
$2.24 ฿75.4
-30.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 TND 36.17
$19.93 ฿673
-37.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.09 TND 17.82
$3.64 ฿123
67.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.05 TND 41.14
$13.56 ฿458
3.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 TND 4.60
$3.29 ฿111
-52.28%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 TND 9.01
$1.69 ฿56.9
82.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 TND 2.73
$2.33 ฿78.8
-60.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.20
$2.03 ฿68.4
-63.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.06
$1.60 ฿54.0
-56.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$1.49 ฿50.5
-57.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.25
$1.01 ฿34.17
-57.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$0.48 ฿16.09
-35.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.80
$4.45 ฿150
-24.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.14 TND 15.05
$18.63 ฿629
-72.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.65
$1.79 ฿60.3
-30.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 TND 4.05
$2.80 ฿94.4
-50.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 TND 1.05
$1.42 ฿47.90
-74.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.43 TND 33.46
$11.33 ฿382
0.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$3.09 ฿104
-89.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$1.04 ฿35.19
-70.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 TND 9.86
$13.63 ฿460
-75.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.40
$1.31 ฿44.23
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K TND 118.1K
$27.3K ฿920.7K
47.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.2K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
9.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.8 TND 169
$123 ฿4,157
-53.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 TND 29.36
$13.81 ฿466
-27.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.26 TND 53.5
$18.52 ฿625
-1.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.02 TND 61.6
$60.4 ฿2,037
-65.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89 TND 20.16
$16.80 ฿567
-58.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31 TND 15.54
$8.89 ฿300
-40.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 314
$687 ฿23.2K
-84.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,171 TND 9,283
$15.6K ฿524.8K
-79.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.00 TND 135
$57.6 ฿1,945
-20.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2 TND 179
$34.66 ฿1,170
76.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 TND 331
$115 ฿3,879
-1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 TND 240
$84.9 ฿2,865
-3.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 TND 594
$618 ฿20.8K
-67.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 TND 403
$443 ฿15.0K
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 TND 1,395
$2,047 ฿69.1K
-76.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 TND 808
$1,506 ฿50.8K
-81.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,251 TND 3,661
$3,568 ฿120.4K
-64.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$614 TND 1,796
$2,511 ฿84.7K
-75.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 TND 1,035
$503 ฿17.0K
-29.68%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Monastir and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 42% 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: $24.00 in Monastir vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $292 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 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monastir or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Phuket. 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: $203 in Monastir versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Monastir and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Monastir versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 86% 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 1% 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 living in Monastir or in Phuket?
At $678 in Monastir versus $1,261 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 86% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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