Cost of Living Comparison Between Ostia and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ostia and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,658 per month in Ostia vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,561 per month in Ostia vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,465 per month in Ostia vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Ostia costs about 31% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ostia sits 24% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.63 €15.17
$4.70 ฿153
275.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 €64.7
$45.37 ฿1,482
65.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.50 €9.90
$8.43 ฿275
36.42%
Cappuccino
$2.10 €1.80
$2.93 ฿95.6
-28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.01
$0.69 ฿22.40
237.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.92
$0.37 ฿11.99
189.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.76 €4.10
$2.41 ฿78.6
97.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 €4.09
$3.72 ฿122
27.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.23 ฿72.9
-22.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.86
$1.83 ฿59.8
18.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 €2.46
$2.17 ฿70.8
31.80%
Eggs
$4.37 €3.76
$2.21 ฿72.3
97.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.75 €12.70
$19.74 ฿645
-25.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.22 €8.80
$3.63 ฿119
181.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.02 €13.79
$13.53 ฿442
18.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 €2.09
$3.28 ฿107
-26.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 €1.89
$1.61 ฿52.6
36.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$2.41 ฿78.6
-17.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$2.08 ฿68.1
26.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.53 ฿49.93
11.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.48 ฿48.36
31.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.09
$0.99 ฿32.29
28.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.47
$0.51 ฿16.67
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.11
$4.41 ฿144
61.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.78 €4.11
$19.38 ฿633
-75.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.78 ฿58.1
7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.35
$2.71 ฿88.6
0.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.53
$1.37 ฿44.79
29.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.78 €36.83
$11.39 ฿372
275.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.23 €4.50
$3.02 ฿98.6
73.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.31
$0.99 ฿32.48
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.44 €29.65
$14.10 ฿461
144.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.36 ฿44.51
41.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K €24.6K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
1.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K €25.2K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-11.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 €191
$122 ฿3,975
82.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.77 €9.27
$13.57 ฿443
-20.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.75 €29.05
$18.31 ฿598
84.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.4 €54.6
$60.2 ฿1,967
5.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.11 €19.90
$17.14 ฿560
34.83%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 €9.80
$8.69 ฿284
30.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$386 €332
$693 ฿22.6K
-44.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,340 €8,041
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-40.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.7 €63.4
$59.5 ฿1,944
23.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.94 €30.08
$34.77 ฿1,136
0.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 €75.5
$115 ฿3,743
-23.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €104
$83.3 ฿2,720
45.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$754 €649
$613 ฿20.0K
23.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 €500
$437 ฿14.3K
32.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,216 €1,047
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-41.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$918 €791
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-39.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,227 €2,779
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-13.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,154 €1,854
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-17.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostia
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,120 €1,825
$508 ฿16.6K
317.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
5.33
-25.89%

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

Last update for Ostia: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Ostia versus $613 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 317% higher in Ostia, 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 $75.0 in Ostia versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $293 – 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
Ostia vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ostia?
Yes – Ostia is pricier by about 31%, 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 $2,487 per month in Ostia and $1,898 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $386 per month in Ostia and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ostia and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Ostia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ostia or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Ostia at $1,658. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ostia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ostia 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, Ostia 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, Ostia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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