Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Monastir: $706 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monastir, Tunisia
Phuket, Thailand
Monastir
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$706
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monastir and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Monastir and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Monastir versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Monastir $706
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Monastir versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Monastir $1,131
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Monastir versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Monastir $1,555
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Monastir costs roughly 45% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Monastir 48% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 TND 15.08
$4.47 ฿151
12.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.48 TND 67.7
$32.41 ฿1,094
-30.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 TND 18.51
$8.81 ฿297
-30.19%
Cappuccino
$1.19 TND 3.59
$2.83 ฿95.5
-57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 TND 2.23
$0.87 ฿29.43
-14.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TND 1.09
$0.49 ฿16.67
-26.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 TND 4.92
$2.56 ฿86.4
-36.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 TND 4.91
$3.68 ฿124
-55.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.44 TND 1.32
$1.66 ฿56.0
-73.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.51
$1.46 ฿49.35
-88.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 TND 5.05
$1.50 ฿50.6
12.00%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.75
$2.09 ฿70.5
-24.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 TND 41.29
$19.07 ฿644
-28.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 TND 18.52
$3.30 ฿111
86.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.60 TND 43.97
$10.91 ฿368
33.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 TND 6.07
$2.93 ฿99.0
-31.40%
Banana (1kg)
$4.40 TND 13.25
$1.69 ฿57.1
160.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 TND 3.60
$2.25 ฿75.8
-46.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.40
$2.08 ฿70.1
-61.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 TND 2.63
$1.51 ฿51.0
-42.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.17
$1.38 ฿46.56
-47.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 TND 1.33
$1.07 ฿35.99
-58.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 1.01
$0.52 ฿17.52
-36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74 TND 11.27
$4.20 ฿142
-10.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 TND 17.18
$18.79 ฿634
-69.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 TND 3.65
$1.82 ฿61.5
-33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.97
$2.84 ฿95.9
-53.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$1.45 ฿49.03
-77.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.01 TND 33.17
$56.7 ฿1,913
-80.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.87
$3.02 ฿102
-90.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$1.02 ฿34.36
-71.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 TND 5.34
$3.69 ฿125
-52.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.49
$1.47 ฿49.81
-43.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K TND 119.6K
$26.8K ฿904.3K
48.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K TND 108.3K
$26.7K ฿901.3K
34.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 TND 185
$96.4 ฿3,254
-36.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56 TND 31.82
$11.26 ฿380
-6.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06 TND 60.4
$16.85 ฿569
19.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.67 TND 71.3
$67.2 ฿2,270
-64.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 TND 19.97
$10.73 ฿362
-38.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 TND 18.17
$7.50 ฿253
-19.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 TND 284
$476 ฿16.1K
-80.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,205 TND 9,656
$11.3K ฿380.4K
-71.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.92 TND 141
$62.4 ฿2,106
-24.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 TND 203
$28.41 ฿959
137.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 TND 335
$94.3 ฿3,184
18.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2 TND 293
$85.8 ฿2,898
13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 TND 610
$716 ฿24.2K
-71.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$121 TND 363
$491 ฿16.6K
-75.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 TND 1,067
$1,927 ฿65.1K
-81.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 TND 703
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-83.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,219 TND 3,671
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-70.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 TND 1,864
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-79.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$347 TND 1,044
$502 ฿17.0K
-30.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5.57
97.49%

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

Last update for Monastir: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Monastir
$210
Phuket
$266 26.9% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
$145
Phuket
$122 16.1% $23
Accommodation & Living
Monastir
$121
Phuket
$491 307% $370
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
$92
Phuket
$124 35.1% $32
Eating Out
Monastir
$89
Phuket
$122 37.3% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
$36
Phuket
$82 130% $46
Getting Around
Monastir
$14
Phuket
$71 405% $57

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Monastir and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 45% 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: $22 in Monastir vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $266 per month, with Monastir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Monastir
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
12:56 12:56 PM
18:56 6:56 PM
6 h ahead of Monastir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
104,535
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.01 TND (1 TND = 0.332 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monastir Phuket 9,280 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monastir
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Monastir cheaper than Phuket?
Monastir is cheaper overall, especially in transport, groceries, and leisure. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monastir or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Monastir. 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 $716 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 $706 per month in Monastir versus $1,278 in Phuket – a 81% 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 81% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Monastir or in Phuket?
At $706 in Monastir versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Monastir or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
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 45% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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