😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,103 in Alberton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,733 in Alberton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,363 in Alberton.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 15% more expensive than in Alberton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Alberton17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.32R 137
-46.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$33.30R 548
36.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$4.43R 72.9
97.74%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$2.04R 33.64
45.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.01R 16.70
-31.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.82R 13.44
-52.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$2.29R 37.70
10.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.20R 36.17
70.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.04R 17.06
106.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.06R 17.46
71.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.61R 26.54
35.40%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.09R 34.43
7.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$7.73R 127
158.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$4.62R 76.1
-21.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$5.94R 97.8
128.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.58R 25.97
105.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.61R 26.50
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.54R 25.35
51.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.58R 26.06
31.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.14R 18.79
35.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.16R 19.04
25.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.09R 17.97
-10.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.90R 14.87
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.85R 46.84
52.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$3.06R 50.4
506.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.16R 19.14
60.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.24R 20.34
113.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$2.86R 47.03
-50.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$113R 1,859
-89.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.43R 23.59
121.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$1.37R 22.51
-24.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$3.00R 49.44
363.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.27R 20.88
5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$19.6KR 322.3K
41.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$25.7KR 423.0K
29.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$124R 2,046
-1.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$37.48R 617
-63.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$38.18R 629
-51.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$36.74R 605
65.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$14.20R 234
20.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$5.45R 89.8
62.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$142R 2,335
385.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,684R 27.7K
837.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$49.59R 816
19.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$30.23R 498
14.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$87.7R 1,444
31.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$87.5R 1,440
-4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$406R 6,683
53.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$314R 5,168
42.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$858R 14.1K
137.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$691R 11.4K
116.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$724R 11.9K
377.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$604R 9,941
319.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$2,083R 34.3K
-76.31%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Alberton: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $406 in Alberton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alberton pays 322% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Alberton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $167 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Alberton?
On paper, salaries run 322% 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: $621 in Phuket versus $406 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 74% 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 $33.00 versus $46.00 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 $1,103 in Alberton versus $1,264 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 15% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.