Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Acquarossa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Acquarossa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,686 in Acquarossa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $5,610 in Acquarossa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $7,534 in Acquarossa.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 67% less than in Acquarossa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Acquarossa is 169% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$35.34 CHF 29.04
-87.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$144 CHF 118
-77.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$18.53 CHF 15.23
-51.81%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$7.29 CHF 5.99
-60.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$5.74 CHF 4.71
-84.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$5.29 CHF 4.35
-90.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$9.84 CHF 8.09
-76.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$8.72 CHF 7.17
-57.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$2.13 CHF 1.75
-12.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$3.98 CHF 3.27
-63.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$3.98 CHF 3.27
-61.06%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$8.46 CHF 6.95
-75.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$27.70 CHF 22.76
-29.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$27.65 CHF 22.72
-87.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$61.2 CHF 50.3
-81.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$4.18 CHF 3.44
-28.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.80 CHF 2.30
-40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$3.47 CHF 2.85
-36.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$4.96 CHF 4.07
-56.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$2.59 CHF 2.13
-41.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$2.19 CHF 1.80
-38.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$2.58 CHF 2.12
-56.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$1.28 CHF 1.05
-57.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$11.10 CHF 9.12
-61.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$13.21 CHF 10.85
44.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$2.86 CHF 2.35
-37.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$3.26 CHF 2.68
-14.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$4.02 CHF 3.30
-44.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
$93.7 CHF 77.0
-75.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$8.28 CHF 6.81
-63.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$4.55 CHF 3.74
-77.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$92.0 CHF 75.6
-95.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$2.34 CHF 1.92
-36.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$39.9K CHF 32.8K
-33.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$40.3K CHF 33.1K
-32.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$289 CHF 238
-64.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$39.28 CHF 32.28
-71.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$57.7 CHF 47.41
-69.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$84.8 CHF 69.7
-38.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
$44.18 CHF 36.31
-74.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$24.89 CHF 20.45
-69.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$3,645 CHF 2,995
-84.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$42.8K CHF 35.2K
-73.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$142 CHF 117
-55.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$58.5 CHF 48.10
-49.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$164 CHF 135
-40.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$259 CHF 213
-65.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$1,788 CHF 1,469
-58.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$1,512 CHF 1,243
-68.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$2,641 CHF 2,170
-20.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$2,559 CHF 2,103
-52.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$14.0K CHF 11.5K
-74.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$14.1K CHF 11.6K
-81.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Acquarossa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$12.5K CHF 10.3K
-96.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.07
169.08%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Acquarossa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $1,788 in Acquarossa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acquarossa pays 2429% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $144 in Acquarossa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $677 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 Acquarossa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Acquarossa?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 199% lower than in Acquarossa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Acquarossa?
On paper, salaries run 2429% lower in Acquarossa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Acquarossa?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $1,788 in Acquarossa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Acquarossa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 148% higher in Acquarossa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Acquarossa?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $144 in Acquarossa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Acquarossa?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,686 in Acquarossa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Acquarossa. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Acquarossa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Acquarossa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Acquarossa 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% less than in Acquarossa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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