😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,184 in Mont-Laurier versus $1,264 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,234 in Mont-Laurier versus $2,256 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,284 in Mont-Laurier versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Mont-Laurier is roughly 73% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mont-Laurier is 64% above, Phuket is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98CA$22.39
$4.48฿150
256.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.2CA$101
$45.59฿1,521
58.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.07CA$15.51
$8.76฿292
26.37%
Cappuccino
$3.74CA$5.25
$2.97฿99.0
25.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11CA$2.95
$0.69฿22.90
205.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47CA$2.06
$0.39฿13.04
276.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.02CA$8.44
$2.53฿84.4
137.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82CA$9.55
$3.75฿125
81.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.25
$2.15฿71.6
7.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.73CA$3.83
$1.82฿60.6
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60CA$3.65
$2.18฿72.9
19.27%
Eggs
$3.45CA$4.84
$2.25฿75.0
53.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.26CA$8.77
$20.00฿667
-68.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.75CA$16.47
$3.63฿121
223.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.60CA$21.86
$13.56฿452
15.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.11
$3.24฿108
12.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57CA$2.19
$1.64฿54.6
-4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.62
$2.33฿77.8
72.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40CA$4.76
$2.07฿69.1
64.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49CA$2.09
$1.55฿51.6
-3.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11CA$1.56
$1.46฿48.54
-23.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08CA$2.91
$0.98฿32.86
112.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.51
$0.48฿16.09
272.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.55CA$14.78
$4.35฿145
142.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23CA$8.73
$18.57฿620
-66.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12CA$4.37
$1.86฿61.9
67.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52CA$4.93
$2.65฿88.6
32.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33CA$3.26
$1.42฿47.28
64.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9CA$86.8
$11.57฿386
435.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58CA$5.02
$3.17฿106
12.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.04
$1.03฿34.41
41.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.51CA$48.36
$13.89฿463
148.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14CA$1.60
$1.34฿44.84
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$35.1K
$27.8K฿927.1K
-9.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KCA$29.9K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-36.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0CA$104
$123฿4,105
-39.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.07CA$50.5
$13.77฿459
161.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.93CA$61.6
$18.33฿611
139.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.09CA$57.6
$60.7฿2,025
-32.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.20CA$15.69
$8.87฿296
26.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624CA$875
$688฿22.9K
-9.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,952CA$8,340
$15.8K฿526.4K
-62.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4CA$87.5
$59.3฿1,978
5.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.77CA$62.7
$34.69฿1,157
29.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104CA$145
$115฿3,843
-9.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120CA$169
$83.8฿2,794
43.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325CA$1,857
$621฿20.7K
113.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,642
$446฿14.9K
162.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,031CA$2,846
$2,034฿67.8K
-0.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,783CA$2,499
$1,496฿49.9K
19.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,804CA$5,330
$3,455฿115.3K
10.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,677CA$5,153
$2,531฿84.4K
45.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mont-Laurier
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
5.33
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mont-Laurier: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Mont-Laurier and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Mont-Laurier vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 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
Mont-Laurier vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mont-Laurier?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,276 in Mont-Laurier and $1,896 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mont-Laurier and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Mont-Laurier versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mont-Laurier and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Mont-Laurier. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mont-Laurier or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $72.0 in Mont-Laurier. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mont-Laurier or in Phuket?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,184 in Mont-Laurier, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mont-Laurier. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mont-Laurier or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mont-Laurier, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mont-Laurier or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Mont-Laurier 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 73% less than in Mont-Laurier. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mont-Laurier vs other spots: cost of living compared