😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,081 in Alberton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,746 in Alberton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,410 in Alberton.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 14% more expensive than Alberton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Alberton19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$8.65R 145
-46.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$33.78R 566
38.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.45R 74.6
98.65%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$2.05R 34.38
46.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.02R 17.06
-27.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.89R 14.86
-58.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$2.28R 38.21
7.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$2.18R 36.64
65.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.09R 18.29
107.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$1.05R 17.63
75.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.63R 27.37
37.42%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.09R 35.09
11.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.66R 128
156.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$4.52R 75.9
-19.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$5.84R 98.0
124.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$1.57R 26.28
115.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.56R 26.13
5.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.46R 24.47
65.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.50R 25.22
35.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$1.18R 19.78
32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.17R 19.68
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.10R 18.42
-7.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.90R 15.04
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$2.72R 45.66
63.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$3.04R 51.0
521.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.22R 20.51
45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.25R 20.90
120.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$2.82R 47.21
-50.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$111R 1,862
-89.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.38R 23.14
126.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$1.31R 22.03
-23.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$3.01R 50.4
368.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.22R 20.47
10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$19.3KR 323.0K
41.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$25.9KR 434.7K
27.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$124R 2,076
0.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$37.76R 633
-64.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$38.82R 651
-52.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$37.41R 627
64.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$13.74R 230
22.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$5.72R 95.9
60.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$139R 2,337
401.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$1,697R 28.5K
818.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$49.47R 830
16.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$30.00R 503
17.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$88.2R 1,479
28.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$89.7R 1,504
-3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$406R 6,810
51.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$305R 5,116
46.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$846R 14.2K
142.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$686R 11.5K
117.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$729R 12.2K
418.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$603R 10.1K
339.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alberton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$2,134R 35.8K
-75.46%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Alberton: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $406 in Alberton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alberton pays 307% 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 $166 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Alberton?
On paper, Alberton earns 307% 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 Alberton?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 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 Alberton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or 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 Phuket or Alberton?
At $1,081 in Alberton versus $1,232 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 14% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.