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: $1,944 in Mons versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,936 in Mons versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,927 in Mons versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Mons is roughly 58% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mons is 42% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 €15.17
$4.41 ฿147
294.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.3 €73.5
$32.26 ฿1,077
161.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.28 €8.96
$8.93 ฿298
15.12%
Cappuccino
$3.52 €3.07
$2.90 ฿96.6
21.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 €2.32
$0.88 ฿29.38
202.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 €1.66
$0.48 ฿16.06
295.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 €4.14
$2.35 ฿78.5
102.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 €3.87
$3.72 ฿124
19.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.87 ฿62.3
-33.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.47 ฿48.94
55.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 €1.98
$1.55 ฿51.8
46.45%
Eggs
$4.20 €3.66
$2.10 ฿70.1
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.85 €16.44
$19.59 ฿654
-3.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.73 €11.10
$3.42 ฿114
272.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.68 €17.16
$11.38 ฿380
72.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 €2.47
$2.98 ฿99.6
-5.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 €2.23
$1.68 ฿56.2
52.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 €2.33
$2.21 ฿73.7
20.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 €2.57
$2.16 ฿72.1
36.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 €1.91
$1.52 ฿50.9
44.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 €1.04
$1.34 ฿44.67
-11.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.13 ฿37.67
20.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.95
$0.55 ฿18.24
96.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 €8.62
$4.26 ฿142
132.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 €5.18
$19.09 ฿637
-68.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.80
$1.78 ฿59.4
15.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 €1.66
$2.78 ฿92.9
-31.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mons
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.22 €2.81
$2.23 ฿74.4
44.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.2 €49.00
$22.74 ฿759
147.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$11.73 €10.22
$3.03 ฿101
287.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 €2.62
$1.02 ฿34.15
195.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.32 €32.53
$3.89 ฿130
859.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.56
$1.49 ฿49.77
20.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K €32.0K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
38.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K €30.6K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
29.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 €199
$102 ฿3,420
123.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.60 €18.83
$11.33 ฿378
90.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.31 €42.11
$17.40 ฿581
177.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.95 €23.50
$52.1 ฿1,738
-48.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.58 €19.68
$11.07 ฿370
103.97%
Cinema Ticket
$12.74 €11.11
$7.69 ฿257
65.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$566 €494
$561 ฿18.7K
0.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K €18.9K
$11.5K ฿384.1K
87.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 €96.5
$63.0 ฿2,104
75.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.89 €43.49
$29.52 ฿986
69.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €97.9
$98.0 ฿3,272
14.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 €127
$88.5 ฿2,954
64.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mons
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$708 €617
$738 ฿24.6K
-4.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 €621
$482 ฿16.1K
47.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,099 €958
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-47.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 €899
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-15.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,210 €3,670
$3,617 ฿120.7K
16.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,046 €2,655
$2,603 ฿86.9K
17.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mons
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,980 €2,598
$494 ฿16.5K
503.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.2
5.57
-42.55%

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

Last update for Mons: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $708 in Mons and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mons pays 504% 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: $84.0 in Mons vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $274 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 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mons or Phuket?
Average pay runs 504% 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: $708 in Mons versus $738 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 $1,944 per month in Mons versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 58% 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 147% 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 $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,944 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 58% less than in Mons. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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