🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,702 in Abano Terme.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,590 in Abano Terme.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,477 in Abano Terme.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 26% less than in Abano Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Abano Terme is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$17.67€15.21
-73.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$74.1€63.8
-38.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$11.71€10.08
-28.01%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.90€1.64
54.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$3.01€2.59
-77.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.32€1.14
-71.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$5.95€5.12
-59.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$5.31€4.57
-29.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.59€1.37
40.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.20€1.90
-16.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.80€2.41
-22.50%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$3.94€3.39
-43.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$16.04€13.81
23.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$12.20€10.50
-70.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$19.30€16.62
-29.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.39€2.06
37.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.00€1.72
-19.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.66€2.29
-9.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$3.20€2.76
-35.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.75€1.51
-12.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.70€1.47
-12.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.49€1.28
-33.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.49€0.43
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$6.97€6.00
-36.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$7.01€6.03
176.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.65€1.42
7.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.44€2.10
11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$1.73€1.49
-20.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$43.42€37.38
-73.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$5.64€4.85
-46.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$1.57€1.35
-36.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$34.58€29.77
-59.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$2.11€1.81
-35.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$32.9K€28.3K
-14.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$32.8K€28.2K
0.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$214€184
-43.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$13.17€11.34
3.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$30.78€26.49
-40.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$54.2€46.66
11.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$23.50€20.23
-27.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$10.30€8.87
-15.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$562€484
23.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$7,974€6,865
96.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$86.6€74.5
-31.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$37.71€32.46
-7.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$93.1€80.1
23.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$130€112
-35.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$750€646
-18.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$580€499
-24.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$1,228€1,057
70.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$927€798
62.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$2,491€2,145
50.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$2,356€2,028
11.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Abano Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$2,714€2,336
-81.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.45
19.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Abano Terme: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $750 in Abano Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abano Terme pays 434% 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 $74.0 in Abano Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $330 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 Abano Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abano Terme cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Abano Terme?
On paper, Abano Terme earns 434% 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 Abano Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $750 in Abano Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Abano Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Abano Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Abano Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $74.0 in Abano Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Abano Terme?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,702 in Abano Terme, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Abano Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Abano Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Abano Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Abano Terme?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Abano Terme 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 35% less than in Abano Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.