Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Albion Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Albion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $630 in Albion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,585 in Albion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,539 in Albion.

Living in Phuket is roughly 95% more expensive than in Albion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Albion 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$5.91 MUR 279
-25.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$38.39 MUR 1,810
-15.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$6.46 MUR 305
38.24%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.51 MUR 71.2
92.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.13 MUR 53.3
-22.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.66 MUR 31.26
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$2.03 MUR 95.8
15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.69 MUR 127
38.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.48 MUR 69.8
26.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$0.52 MUR 24.47
182.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.10 MUR 51.8
40.91%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$2.45 MUR 116
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$5.36 MUR 252
265.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$5.26 MUR 248
-34.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$8.27 MUR 390
37.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$1.57 MUR 74.2
89.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.39 MUR 65.4
20.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.45 MUR 68.4
52.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$1.94 MUR 91.5
11.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$0.82 MUR 38.57
85.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$0.66 MUR 30.98
103.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.66 MUR 31.27
71.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.31 MUR 14.40
77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$6.01 MUR 283
-29.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$8.22 MUR 388
132.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$1.70 MUR 80.4
4.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$2.34 MUR 110
18.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Albion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$1.04 MUR 49.15
114.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$42.07 MUR 1,983
-45.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$4.25 MUR 200
-28.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$3.19 MUR 151
-68.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$21.60 MUR 1,018
-81.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.28 MUR 60.3
16.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$36.6K MUR 1.7M
-27.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$31.0K MUR 1.5M
-12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$45.47 MUR 2,143
125.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$10.52 MUR 496
7.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$29.25 MUR 1,379
-40.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$67.4 MUR 3,177
-22.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$6.18 MUR 291
24.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$128 MUR 6,054
336.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$7,776 MUR 366.5K
47.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$53.0 MUR 2,497
18.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$43.17 MUR 2,034
-31.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$73.3 MUR 3,452
33.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$76.5 MUR 3,606
15.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Albion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$1,072 MUR 50.5K
14.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Albion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Albion: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Albion. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $173, with Albion cheaper for home cooking.

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 Albion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Albion?
Phuket and Albion differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $630 including rent). Albion is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Albion?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $945 in Albion to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Albion?
A monthly transit pass in Albion runs roughly 85% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Albion?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $128 in Albion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $630 in Albion versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albion but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Albion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Albion?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Albion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Albion are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Albion?
Expats usually find Albion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities