😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,112 in Alberton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,739 in Alberton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,366 in Alberton.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 10% more expensive than in Alberton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Alberton17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿148
$8.63R 142
-47.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,528
$33.67R 553
38.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿278
$4.38R 72.0
93.84%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿101
$2.12R 34.88
45.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.26
$1.01R 16.67
-32.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.84
$0.81R 13.31
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿79.5
$2.20R 36.11
10.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿119
$2.30R 37.75
57.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.7
$1.05R 17.18
108.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.5
$1.06R 17.48
70.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿73.1
$1.58R 25.99
41.14%
Eggs
$2.24฿73.3
$2.19R 36.05
2.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿642
$7.72R 127
153.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿122
$4.51R 74.2
-17.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿441
$5.70R 93.7
136.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿110
$1.52R 24.95
121.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.59R 26.06
1.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.49R 24.48
61.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿65.2
$1.57R 25.80
26.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.2
$1.18R 19.45
29.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.59
$1.17R 19.26
23.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿33.23
$1.13R 18.54
-10.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.86
$0.83R 13.59
-42.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$2.85R 46.93
49.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿627
$3.01R 49.50
535.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.2
$1.22R 20.00
50.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.8
$1.24R 20.41
120.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.44
$2.75R 45.26
-48.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿384
$114R 1,867
-89.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿98.4
$1.36R 22.36
120.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.28
$1.31R 21.61
-19.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿456
$3.13R 51.5
344.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿42.28
$1.29R 21.14
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿918.7K
$19.5KR 320.4K
43.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$26.4KR 433.7K
26.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,997
$123R 2,029
-1.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿457
$37.77R 621
-63.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿618
$38.62R 635
-51.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿2,008
$37.18R 611
64.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿552
$13.85R 228
21.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿291
$5.77R 94.8
54.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.7K
$138R 2,271
400.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿529.5K
$1,667R 27.4K
869.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,894
$48.93R 804
18.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,160
$30.37R 499
16.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,716
$88.6R 1,457
27.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,720
$88.0R 1,446
-5.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.9K
$408R 6,706
48.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.7K
$314R 5,157
42.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.5K
$873R 14.4K
132.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.9K
$700R 11.5K
113.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿117.5K
$887R 14.6K
304.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.7K
$704R 11.6K
267.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.5K
$2,109R 34.7K
-76.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.69
-54.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Alberton: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $408 in Alberton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alberton pays 318% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $34.00 in Alberton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $165 per month, with Alberton 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 Alberton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alberton cheaper than Phuket?
Alberton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Alberton?
On paper, salaries run 318% lower in Alberton. 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 Alberton?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $408 in Alberton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Alberton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Alberton?
Dining out is cheaper in Alberton – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Alberton?
At $1,112 in Alberton versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alberton but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Alberton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Alberton more family-friendly?
For families, Alberton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Alberton?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alberton 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 Alberton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.