🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,905 in Aarschot.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,893 in Aarschot.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,881 in Aarschot.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 34% less than in Aarschot, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Aarschot is 42% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$17.71€15.23
-73.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$92.2€79.3
-50.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$11.60€9.97
-27.33%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$4.07€3.50
-28.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$3.47€2.98
-80.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$3.07€2.64
-87.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$4.99€4.29
-51.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.73€3.21
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.37€1.18
62.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.79€2.40
-34.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.61€2.25
-16.86%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$4.13€3.55
-46.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$12.08€10.39
63.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$11.73€10.09
-69.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$17.18€14.78
-21.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.96€2.54
10.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.36€2.03
-31.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.25€1.93
7.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.67€2.30
-22.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.22€1.91
-31.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.69€1.46
-12.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.43€1.23
-30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.84€0.72
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$12.82€11.03
-65.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$6.90€5.94
180.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.85€1.59
-3.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.99€1.71
36.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$2.91€2.51
-52.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$57.1€49.15
-80.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$5.91€5.09
-48.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$2.54€2.19
-61.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$34.51€29.69
-59.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.92€1.65
-29.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$30.7K€26.4K
-8.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$28.9K€24.9K
13.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$182€157
-33.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$21.76€18.72
-37.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$48.81€41.99
-62.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$38.92€33.48
54.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$17.18€14.78
-0.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$14.67€12.62
-40.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$660€568
5.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$13.8K€11.8K
14.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$104€89.5
-42.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$32.98€28.37
5.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$93.9€80.8
22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$131€112
-36.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$910€783
-32.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$757€652
-42.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$1,367€1,176
53.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$1,086€934
38.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$4,244€3,651
-11.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$2,675€2,301
-2.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Aarschot
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$3,262€2,806
-84.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.27
63.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Aarschot: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $910 in Aarschot. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aarschot pays 542% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $92.0 in Aarschot for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $319 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
Phuket vs Aarschot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aarschot cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Aarschot?
On paper, Aarschot earns 542% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Aarschot?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $910 in Aarschot. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Aarschot?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Aarschot. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Aarschot?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $92.0 in Aarschot. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Aarschot?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,905 in Aarschot, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Aarschot. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Aarschot more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aarschot, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Aarschot?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Aarschot 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 51% less than in Aarschot. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.