Cost of Living Comparison Between Parramatta and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Parramatta and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,284 in Parramatta versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,357 in Parramatta versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,431 in Parramatta versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Parramatta is roughly 81% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Parramatta is 70% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.58 A$23.10
$4.70 ฿153
252.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 A$111
$45.37 ฿1,482
75.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.59 A$13.37
$8.43 ฿275
13.76%
Cappuccino
$3.35 A$4.67
$2.93 ฿95.6
14.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 A$3.69
$0.69 ฿22.40
282.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 A$3.13
$0.37 ฿11.99
505.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.56 A$9.15
$2.41 ฿78.6
172.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 A$10.03
$3.72 ฿122
93.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 A$2.10
$2.23 ฿72.9
-32.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 A$3.70
$1.83 ฿59.8
44.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.46
$2.17 ฿70.8
-18.43%
Eggs
$4.06 A$5.66
$2.21 ฿72.3
83.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 A$12.55
$19.74 ฿645
-54.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.17 A$11.38
$3.63 ฿119
125.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.33 A$19.97
$13.53 ฿442
5.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.63
$3.28 ฿107
1.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 A$3.73
$1.61 ฿52.6
66.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.32
$2.41 ฿78.6
28.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 A$6.43
$2.08 ฿68.1
122.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 A$3.22
$1.53 ฿49.93
50.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$2.93
$1.48 ฿48.36
41.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 A$3.28
$0.99 ฿32.29
137.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 A$1.78
$0.51 ฿16.67
149.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.30 A$42.22
$4.41 ฿144
587.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.09 A$19.63
$19.38 ฿633
-27.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.86 A$6.77
$1.78 ฿58.1
173.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28 A$7.35
$2.71 ฿88.6
94.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 A$3.68
$1.37 ฿44.79
92.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.7 A$90.2
$11.39 ฿372
468.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.00 A$5.58
$3.02 ฿98.6
32.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 A$2.22
$0.99 ฿32.48
60.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.50 A$56.4
$14.10 ฿461
187.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.66
$1.36 ฿44.51
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K A$39.5K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K A$31.6K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-30.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 A$310
$122 ฿3,975
83.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12 A$40.57
$13.57 ฿443
114.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 A$72.6
$18.31 ฿598
184.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.35 A$68.8
$60.2 ฿1,967
-18.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 A$22.30
$17.14 ฿560
-6.59%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08 A$19.62
$8.69 ฿284
62.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,747 A$2,434
$693 ฿22.6K
151.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K A$18.8K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-13.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0 A$102
$59.5 ฿1,944
22.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3 A$79.9
$34.77 ฿1,136
64.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 A$136
$115 ฿3,743
-14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 A$163
$83.3 ฿2,720
40.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 A$1,790
$613 ฿20.0K
109.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,506
$437 ฿14.3K
147.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,998 A$2,784
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-4.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 A$2,377
$1,509 ฿49.3K
13.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,189 A$8,625
$3,749 ฿122.5K
65.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,227 A$7,284
$2,616 ฿85.4K
99.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Parramatta
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,210 A$5,866
$508 ฿16.6K
728.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
5.33
18.01%

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

Last update for Parramatta: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Parramatta and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Parramatta pays 728% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Parramatta vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $293 per month, with Phuket 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
Parramatta vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Parramatta?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Parramatta or Phuket?
Parramatta pays 728% 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 Parramatta and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,284 in Parramatta versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Parramatta vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,284 per month in Parramatta versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 468% less than in Parramatta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Parramatta or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,284 in Parramatta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Parramatta. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Parramatta or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Parramatta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Parramatta or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Parramatta 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 – expenses run 81% less than in Parramatta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Parramatta vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities