Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Victoria and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,706 in Mount Victoria, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mount Victoria, Australia
Phuket, Thailand
Mount Victoria
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,706
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mount Victoria and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mount Victoria and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Mount Victoria versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Mount Victoria $2,706
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,821 in Mount Victoria versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Mount Victoria $3,821
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,935 in Mount Victoria versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Mount Victoria $4,935
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Mount Victoria is roughly 112% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mount Victoria is 99% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.07 A$30.10
$4.47 ฿151
371.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.1 A$127
$32.41 ฿1,092
174.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 A$15.16
$8.81 ฿297
20.54%
Cappuccino
$4.04 A$5.77
$2.83 ฿95.3
42.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.37
$0.87 ฿29.37
251.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 A$3.70
$0.49 ฿16.64
428.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.56 A$12.23
$2.56 ฿86.2
234.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.09 A$14.41
$3.68 ฿124
174.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 A$2.19
$1.66 ฿55.9
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 A$4.65
$1.46 ฿49.25
123.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 A$3.74
$1.50 ฿50.4
74.67%
Eggs
$5.18 A$7.39
$2.09 ฿70.4
147.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.87 A$18.38
$19.07 ฿642
-32.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 A$14.47
$3.30 ฿111
206.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 A$22.31
$10.91 ฿368
43.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.95 A$5.64
$2.93 ฿98.7
34.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.25 A$4.65
$1.69 ฿56.9
92.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 A$5.16
$2.25 ฿75.7
60.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.98 A$7.11
$2.08 ฿70.0
139.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.09 A$4.41
$1.51 ฿50.9
104.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 A$3.92
$1.38 ฿46.47
98.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 A$3.68
$1.07 ฿35.91
141.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 A$1.91
$0.52 ฿17.49
157.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.43 A$64.9
$4.20 ฿142
981.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.05 A$20.06
$18.79 ฿633
-25.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.71 A$6.72
$1.82 ฿61.4
158.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 A$8.05
$2.84 ฿95.7
98.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 A$4.06
$1.45 ฿48.93
95.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.6 A$117
$56.7 ฿1,909
44.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 A$5.85
$3.02 ฿102
35.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.26
$1.02 ฿34.29
54.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.03 A$61.5
$3.69 ฿124
1066.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 A$1.94
$1.47 ฿49.70
-7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K A$39.5K
$26.8K ฿902.4K
3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K A$38.1K
$26.7K ฿899.5K
-0.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 A$257
$96.4 ฿3,247
86.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.84 A$38.33
$11.26 ฿380
138.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2 A$78.8
$16.85 ฿568
227.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 A$76.7
$67.2 ฿2,266
-20.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 A$23.59
$10.73 ฿361
53.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.50 A$22.13
$7.50 ฿253
106.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,500 A$3,570
$476 ฿16.0K
425.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K A$29.5K
$11.3K ฿379.6K
83.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.8 A$110
$62.4 ฿2,102
23.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 A$82.1
$28.41 ฿957
102.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 A$152
$94.3 ฿3,178
12.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 A$191
$85.8 ฿2,892
56.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 A$1,863
$716 ฿24.1K
82.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 A$1,934
$491 ฿16.5K
175.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,438 A$3,481
$1,927 ฿64.9K
26.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 A$2,635
$1,431 ฿48.2K
29.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,693 A$9,559
$4,175 ฿140.7K
60.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,498 A$7,852
$3,045 ฿102.6K
80.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mount Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,184 A$5,976
$502 ฿16.9K
733.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.95
5.57
6.82%

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

Last update for Mount Victoria: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mount Victoria
$1.4K
Phuket
$491 63.7% $863
Groceries & Markets
Mount Victoria
$398
Phuket
$266 33.1% $132
Eating Out
Mount Victoria
$334
Phuket
$122 63.6% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mount Victoria
$262
Phuket
$124 52.5% $138
Clothing & Footwear
Mount Victoria
$168
Phuket
$122 27.6% $47
Getting Around
Mount Victoria
$105
Phuket
$71 32.8% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Mount Victoria
$85
Phuket
$82 2.9% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,304 in Mount Victoria and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mount Victoria pays about 8.3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $89 in Mount Victoria vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $266 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Mount Victoria
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
21:24 9:24 PM
17:24 5:24 PM
4 h behind Mount Victoria
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
989
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mount Victoria Phuket 7,150 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mount Victoria
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mount Victoria vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mount Victoria?
Phuket is about 53% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mount Victoria or Phuket?
Average pay in Mount Victoria is about 8.3 times higher, 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 Mount Victoria and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,304 in Mount Victoria versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mount Victoria and in Phuket?
All in, you’ll spend $2,706 per month in Mount Victoria versus $1,278 in Phuket – Phuket is about 53% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 31% less than in Mount Victoria. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mount Victoria or in Phuket?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,706 in Mount Victoria, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mount Victoria. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Mount Victoria or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Mount Victoria or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Mount Victoria and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Mount Victoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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