Cost of Living Comparison Between Mons and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mons and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,926 in Mons versus $1,264 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,883 in Mons versus $2,256 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,840 in Mons versus $3,248 in Phuket.

Living in Mons is roughly 52% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mons is 45% above, Phuket is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20 €14.90
$4.48 ฿150
283.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7 €75.9
$45.59 ฿1,521
92.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.28 €8.90
$8.76 ฿292
17.35%
Cappuccino
$3.68 €3.19
$2.97 ฿99.0
23.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 €2.28
$0.69 ฿22.90
281.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.19
$0.39 ฿13.04
548.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.50 €3.90
$2.53 ฿84.4
77.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 €3.94
$3.75 ฿125
21.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$2.15 ฿71.6
-42.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 €2.01
$1.82 ฿60.6
28.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 €2.00
$2.18 ฿72.9
5.96%
Eggs
$4.31 €3.73
$2.25 ฿75.0
91.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.52 €15.18
$20.00 ฿667
-12.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 €10.13
$3.63 ฿121
222.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.11 €16.55
$13.56 ฿452
40.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 €2.49
$3.24 ฿108
-11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.44 €2.11
$1.64 ฿54.6
48.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 €2.34
$2.33 ฿77.8
16.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 €2.63
$2.07 ฿69.1
46.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.66
$1.55 ฿51.6
23.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.84
$1.46 ฿48.54
45.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 €1.20
$0.98 ฿32.86
40.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.78
$0.48 ฿16.09
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 €8.82
$4.35 ฿145
134.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.68 €4.92
$18.57 ฿620
-69.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.86 ฿61.9
3.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.53
$2.65 ฿88.6
10.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Mons
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.90 €2.51
$1.42 ฿47.28
104.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.30 €37.50
$11.57 ฿386
274.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$11.03 €9.55
$3.17 ฿106
247.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 €2.35
$1.03 ฿34.41
163.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.6 €46.43
$13.89 ฿463
285.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.66
$1.34 ฿44.84
43.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €28.9K
$27.8K ฿927.1K
20.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K €33.0K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
14.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 €178
$123 ฿4,105
67.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.14 €20.04
$13.77 ฿459
68.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 €43.43
$18.33 ฿611
173.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.96 €23.35
$60.7 ฿2,025
-55.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.83 €14.57
$17.16 ฿573
-1.92%
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 €10.98
$8.87 ฿296
42.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$582 €504
$688 ฿22.9K
-15.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K €16.6K
$15.8K ฿526.4K
21.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €97.7
$59.3 ฿1,978
90.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5 €46.30
$34.69 ฿1,157
54.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.9
$115 ฿3,843
-9.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 €130
$83.8 ฿2,794
79.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mons
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 €576
$621 ฿20.7K
7.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$738 €639
$446 ฿14.9K
65.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 €994
$2,034 ฿67.8K
-43.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 €931
$1,496 ฿49.9K
-28.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,916 €3,391
$3,455 ฿115.3K
13.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,992 €2,591
$2,531 ฿84.4K
18.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,846 €2,464
$494 ฿16.5K
476.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.23
5.33
-39.40%

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

Last update for Mons: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $665 in Mons and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mons pays 477% 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: $88.0 in Mons vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $291 per month, with Phuket 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
Mons vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mons?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mons or Phuket?
Average pay runs 477% higher in Mons, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mons and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $665 in Mons versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mons and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,926 per month in Mons versus $1,264 in Phuket – a 52% 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 Phuket runs roughly 274% less than in Mons. 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 Mons or in Phuket?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,926 in Mons, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mons. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mons or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mons, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mons or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Mons 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Mons. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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