๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,822 in Montecatini Terme versus $1,247 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,657 in Montecatini Terme versus $2,276 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,493 in Montecatini Terme versus $3,306 in Phuket.
๐Living in Montecatini Terme is roughly 46% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Montecatini Terme is 35% above, Phuket is 7% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.99โฌ17.86
$4.59เธฟ147
357.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.99โฌ32.33
$46.83เธฟ1,501
-18.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79โฌ10.04
$8.70เธฟ279
35.52%
Cappuccino
$1.66โฌ1.41
$2.92เธฟ93.7
-43.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$0.68เธฟ21.92
235.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17โฌ1.00
$0.40เธฟ12.70
192.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10โฌ4.34
$2.51เธฟ80.4
103.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70โฌ4.85
$3.80เธฟ122
50.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40โฌ1.19
$2.16เธฟ69.3
-35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75โฌ2.34
$1.88เธฟ60.3
46.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$2.16เธฟ69.2
18.06%
Eggs
$4.61โฌ3.92
$2.22เธฟ71.2
107.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.48โฌ8.92
$19.57เธฟ627
-46.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.24โฌ12.97
$3.80เธฟ122
301.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.28โฌ18.96
$13.41เธฟ430
66.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71โฌ2.31
$3.26เธฟ104
-16.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$1.61เธฟ51.7
71.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64โฌ3.10
$2.31เธฟ74.0
57.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.02โฌ3.42
$2.06เธฟ66.0
95.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81โฌ2.39
$1.61เธฟ51.5
74.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77โฌ1.50
$1.44เธฟ46.26
22.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56โฌ1.33
$1.03เธฟ33.01
51.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44โฌ0.38
$0.48เธฟ15.39
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50โฌ5.53
$4.50เธฟ144
44.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53โฌ8.11
$19.18เธฟ615
-50.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07โฌ0.91
$1.82เธฟ58.4
-41.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52โฌ1.29
$2.69เธฟ86.2
-43.49%
๐ Getting Around
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.38เธฟ44.16
24.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.01โฌ36.60
$11.76เธฟ377
265.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.89โฌ5.86
$3.11เธฟ99.6
121.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12โฌ0.95
$1.00เธฟ32.18
12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.72โฌ27.85
$13.74เธฟ441
138.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02โฌ1.72
$1.30เธฟ41.61
55.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kโฌ23.7K
$27.4Kเธฟ877.0K
1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5Kโฌ31.9K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
13.68%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265โฌ226
$125เธฟ4,004
112.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.46โฌ9.75
$13.74เธฟ440
-16.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.72โฌ26.15
$18.61เธฟ597
65.07%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1โฌ51.1
$60.6เธฟ1,941
-0.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.18โฌ19.72
$17.15เธฟ550
35.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.09โฌ8.59
$9.01เธฟ289
11.99%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$714โฌ608
$698เธฟ22.4K
2.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3Kโฌ9,623
$16.1Kเธฟ516.5K
-29.82%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.4โฌ83.8
$59.2เธฟ1,898
66.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.21โฌ29.96
$34.86เธฟ1,118
1.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103โฌ87.3
$114เธฟ3,662
-10.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131โฌ111
$85.8เธฟ2,751
52.39%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750โฌ638
$619เธฟ19.8K
21.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585โฌ498
$437เธฟ14.0K
33.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234โฌ1,050
$2,075เธฟ66.5K
-40.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935โฌ795
$1,509เธฟ48.4K
-38.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,687โฌ2,287
$3,764เธฟ120.7K
-28.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,331โฌ1,983
$2,694เธฟ86.4K
-13.47%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Montecatini Terme
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$528เธฟ16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5.33
-24.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montecatini Terme: April 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $750 in Montecatini Terme and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $38 in Montecatini Terme vs $47 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $360 vs $292, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.
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
Montecatini Terme vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Montecatini Terme?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,733 in Montecatini Terme and $1,870 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 Montecatini Terme and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $750 in Montecatini Terme versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Montecatini Terme and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Montecatini Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Montecatini Terme or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket โ a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $38.00 in Montecatini Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Montecatini Terme or Phuket?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,822 in Montecatini Terme, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Montecatini Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montecatini Terme or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montecatini Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montecatini Terme or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Montecatini Terme 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 โ expenses run 46% less than in Montecatini Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montecatini Terme vs other spots: cost of living compared