Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phan Thiet and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phan Thiet: $658 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phan Thiet, Vietnam
Phuket, Thailand
Phan Thiet
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$658
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phan Thiet 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 Phan Thiet and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $658 per month in Phan Thiet vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Phan Thiet $658
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $1,085 per month in Phan Thiet vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Phan Thiet $1,085
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $1,512 per month in Phan Thiet vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Phan Thiet $1,512
  • Phuket $3,154

Phan Thiet is about 48% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phan Thiet and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Phan Thiet 52% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.63 ₫68.0K
$4.47 ฿151
-41.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.07 ₫596.4K
$32.41 ฿1,092
-28.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₫118.8K
$8.81 ฿297
-47.79%
Cappuccino
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$2.83 ฿95.3
-78.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₫10.3K
$0.87 ฿29.37
-54.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 ₫5,419
$0.49 ฿16.64
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$2.56 ฿86.2
-76.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ₫31.6K
$3.68 ฿124
-66.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 ₫34.6K
$1.66 ฿55.9
-19.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 ₫9,630
$1.46 ฿49.25
-74.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ₫24.8K
$1.50 ฿50.4
-36.00%
Eggs
$1.13 ₫29.2K
$2.09 ฿70.4
-45.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.32 ₫318.4K
$19.07 ฿642
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ₫81.2K
$3.30 ฿111
-4.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.35 ₫215.9K
$10.91 ฿368
-23.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ₫50.4K
$2.93 ฿98.7
-33.45%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 ₫20.7K
$1.69 ฿56.9
-52.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 ₫27.9K
$2.25 ฿75.7
-52.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 ₫32.1K
$2.08 ฿70.0
-40.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ₫21.0K
$1.51 ฿50.9
-46.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$1.38 ฿46.47
-47.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ₫15.4K
$1.07 ฿35.91
-43.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₫14.2K
$0.52 ฿17.49
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57 ₫40.7K
$4.20 ฿142
-62.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.75 ₫252.1K
$18.79 ฿633
-48.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₫10.5K
$1.82 ฿61.4
-77.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₫39.6K
$2.84 ฿95.7
-46.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ₫7,368
$1.45 ฿48.93
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.35 ₫164.3K
$56.7 ฿1,909
-88.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.59 ₫15.3K
$3.02 ฿102
-80.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₫15.4K
$1.02 ฿34.29
-41.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₫56.2K
$3.69 ฿124
-41.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 ₫23.7K
$1.47 ฿49.70
-37.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K ₫803.4M
$26.8K ฿902.4K
16.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K ₫728.1M
$26.7K ฿899.5K
5.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.05 ₫1.1M
$96.4 ฿3,247
-55.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41 ₫165.8K
$11.26 ฿380
-43.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.43 ₫243.8K
$16.85 ฿568
-44.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.55 ₫531.2K
$67.2 ฿2,266
-69.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.78 ₫201.1K
$10.73 ฿361
-27.49%
Cinema Ticket
$1.88 ₫48.6K
$7.50 ฿253
-74.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$213 ₫5.5M
$476 ฿16.0K
-55.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,840 ₫99.3M
$11.3K ฿379.6K
-65.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.83 ₫590.1K
$62.4 ฿2,102
-63.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.47 ₫606.6K
$28.41 ฿957
-17.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.53 ₫996.2K
$94.3 ฿3,178
-59.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.1 ₫1.5M
$85.8 ฿2,892
-31.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 ₫12.4M
$716 ฿24.1K
-33.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$284 ₫7.3M
$491 ฿16.5K
-42.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$810 ₫20.9M
$1,927 ฿64.9K
-57.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 ₫16.3M
$1,431 ฿48.2K
-56.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,217 ₫57.3M
$4,175 ฿140.7K
-46.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,316 ₫34.0M
$3,045 ฿102.6K
-56.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phan Thiet
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.28
5.57
48.65%

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

Last update for Phan Thiet: October 24, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phan Thiet
$284
Phuket
$491 73.1% $207
Groceries & Markets
Phan Thiet
$166
Phuket
$266 60.7% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Phan Thiet
$65
Phuket
$122 88.2% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phan Thiet
$59
Phuket
$124 111% $66
Eating Out
Phan Thiet
$50
Phuket
$122 143% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Phan Thiet
$24
Phuket
$82 238% $58
Getting Around
Phan Thiet
$11
Phuket
$71 538% $60

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Phan Thiet versus $716 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Phan Thiet versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $266 – making Phan Thiet the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Phan Thiet
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
11:02 11:02 AM
Same time as Phan Thiet
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
255,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 25,852 VND (100,000 VND = 3.87 USD). 1 EUR = 28,779 VND (100,000 VND = 3.47 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phan Thiet Phuket 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phan Thiet
  • 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
Phan Thiet vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phan Thiet and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $658 in Phan Thiet, $1,278 in Phuket – Phan Thiet comes out roughly 48% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Phan Thiet compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $987 per month in Phan Thiet and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phan Thiet and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phan Thiet, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $479 there versus $716 in Phuket.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phan Thiet and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Phan Thiet and $476 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Phan Thiet, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Phan Thiet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Phan Thiet or Phuket?
Families tend to lean toward Phan Thiet – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Phan Thiet or Phuket safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Where should expats move: Phan Thiet or Phuket?
For expats, Phan Thiet is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 48% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Phan Thiet vs other spots: cost of living compared

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