Cost of Living Comparison Between Mortsel and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Mortsel and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,084 per month in Mortsel vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,195 per month in Mortsel vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,306 per month in Mortsel vs $3,291 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Mortsel costs about 65% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mortsel sits 56% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.58€20.73
$4.53฿153
420.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$115€101
$46.36฿1,562
147.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.88€11.32
$8.65฿291
48.90%
Cappuccino
$4.11€3.61
$3.09฿104
33.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.03
$0.68฿22.85
405.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.80
$0.37฿12.41
759.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.50€4.84
$2.42฿81.4
127.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€4.04
$3.81฿128
20.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.19
$2.18฿73.4
-37.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70€2.37
$1.82฿61.2
48.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39€2.10
$2.18฿73.3
9.63%
Eggs
$4.17€3.67
$2.24฿75.3
86.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.26€15.17
$19.93฿671
-13.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.80€10.37
$3.64฿123
224.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.73€19.10
$13.56฿457
60.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93€2.57
$3.29฿111
-10.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.06
$1.69฿56.8
38.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33€2.05
$2.33฿78.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18€2.80
$2.03฿68.3
56.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.67
$1.60฿53.9
18.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.87
$1.49฿50.4
42.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.16
$1.01฿34.11
30.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.76
$0.48฿16.06
79.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.76€11.22
$4.45฿150
186.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.00€7.91
$18.63฿628
-51.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.78
$1.79฿60.2
12.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.05
$2.80฿94.2
-16.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62€2.30
$1.42฿47.81
84.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.7€48.95
$11.33฿382
391.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.86€5.15
$3.09฿104
89.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53€2.22
$1.04฿35.13
143.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.35€40.75
$13.63฿459
240.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.67
$1.31฿44.15
45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K€29.8K
$27.3K฿919.1K
24.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.3K
$33.2K฿1.1M
0.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228€200
$123฿4,149
84.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.13€20.34
$13.81฿465
67.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2€44.98
$18.52฿624
176.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.11€33.50
$60.4฿2,034
-36.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.96€14.91
$16.80฿566
0.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84€13.04
$8.89฿299
66.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$578€509
$687฿23.1K
-15.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K€12.1K
$15.6K฿523.9K
-11.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€99.0
$57.6฿1,942
95.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.90€43.87
$34.66฿1,168
43.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€92.2
$115฿3,872
-8.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€145
$84.9฿2,860
94.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$917€806
$618฿20.8K
48.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$764€672
$443฿14.9K
72.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,369€1,204
$2,047฿69.0K
-33.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,106€972
$1,506฿50.7K
-26.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,604€3,168
$3,568฿120.2K
0.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,024€2,658
$2,511฿84.6K
20.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mortsel
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,406€2,115
$503฿16.9K
378.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5.33
-34.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mortsel: July 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $917 in Mortsel versus $618 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 379% higher in Mortsel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mortsel versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $292 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mortsel vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mortsel?
Yes – Mortsel is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Mortsel and $1,891 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mortsel and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Mortsel, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mortsel or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mortsel and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mortsel or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Mortsel at $2,084. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mortsel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mortsel or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mortsel or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mortsel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.