ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $890 in Pak Kret versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,441 in Pak Kret versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,992 in Pak Kret versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Pak Kret costs roughly 28% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Pak Kret34% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01āļŋ98.3
$4.63āļŋ151
-34.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.08āļŋ1,016
$46.84āļŋ1,532
-33.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18āļŋ202
$8.84āļŋ289
-30.09%
Cappuccino
$2.13āļŋ69.7
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-29.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72āļŋ23.65
$0.74āļŋ24.25
-2.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27āļŋ8.72
$0.37āļŋ11.95
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ82.7
$2.44āļŋ79.8
3.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50āļŋ81.7
$3.61āļŋ118
-30.75%
ð Groceries & Markets
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74āļŋ56.9
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-23.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33āļŋ43.64
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-27.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45āļŋ47.49
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-35.27%
Eggs
$2.19āļŋ71.7
$2.32āļŋ75.7
-5.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.61āļŋ510
$19.67āļŋ643
-20.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30āļŋ108
$3.65āļŋ119
-9.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.54āļŋ312
$13.10āļŋ428
-27.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40āļŋ111
$3.39āļŋ111
0.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33āļŋ43.40
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-18.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96āļŋ64.1
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-18.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42āļŋ46.39
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-30.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ50.1
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-1.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.91
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-18.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.62
$1.02āļŋ33.50
0.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53āļŋ17.47
$0.49āļŋ16.00
8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.74āļŋ155
$4.45āļŋ145
6.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.22āļŋ563
$18.88āļŋ617
-8.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76āļŋ57.6
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33āļŋ76.2
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-15.27%
ð Getting Around
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94āļŋ30.72
$1.40āļŋ45.81
-32.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ376
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09āļŋ35.69
$3.12āļŋ102
-65.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19āļŋ38.86
$1.00āļŋ32.67
19.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.46āļŋ113
$14.09āļŋ461
-75.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29āļŋ42.26
$1.35āļŋ44.19
-4.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0Kāļŋ851.1K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-4.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6Kāļŋ869.5K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-19.23%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.3āļŋ2,594
$125āļŋ4,087
-36.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43āļŋ406
$13.57āļŋ444
-8.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.34āļŋ567
$18.52āļŋ606
-6.37%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.94āļŋ1,633
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-18.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.35āļŋ404
$16.84āļŋ551
-26.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.64āļŋ250
$9.19āļŋ300
-16.87%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297āļŋ9,706
$698āļŋ22.8K
-57.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,336āļŋ305.3K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-40.12%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.44āļŋ995
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-47.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.87āļŋ650
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-43.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6āļŋ3,258
$113āļŋ3,699
-11.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.42āļŋ1,453
$86.4āļŋ2,825
-48.58%
ð Accommodation & Living
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$415āļŋ13.6K
$616āļŋ20.1K
-32.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288āļŋ9,429
$446āļŋ14.6K
-35.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816āļŋ26.7K
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-60.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655āļŋ21.4K
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-56.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,358āļŋ77.1K
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-37.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,374āļŋ44.9K
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-48.14%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Pak Kret
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$770āļŋ25.2K
$524āļŋ17.1K
47.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.84
5.33
9.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pak Kret: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $415 in Pak Kret and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Pak Kret pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $31.00 in Pak Kret vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $292 per month, with Pak Kret 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
Pak Kret vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Pak Kret?
Pak Kret is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pak Kret or Phuket?
Pak Kret pays 47% more on average, 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 Pak Kret and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $415 in Pak Kret versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Pak Kret and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Pak Kret vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $890 per month in Pak Kret versus $1,232 in Phuket â a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pak Kret or Phuket?
At $890 in Pak Kret versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pak Kret but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pak Kret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pak Kret or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Pak Kret is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Pak Kret or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Pak Kret 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 Pak Kret gentler on the wallet â expenses run 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.