๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,667 in Alcorcรณn.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,435 in Alcorcรณn.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,202 in Alcorcรณn.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Alcorcรณn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Alcorcรณn is 24% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70เธฟ154
$17.05โฌ14.68
-72.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37เธฟ1,483
$57.3โฌ49.32
-20.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43เธฟ276
$10.38โฌ8.94
-18.79%
Cappuccino
$2.93เธฟ95.7
$2.08โฌ1.79
40.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.42
$3.05โฌ2.63
-77.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ12.00
$2.05โฌ1.77
-81.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41เธฟ78.7
$4.39โฌ3.78
-45.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72เธฟ122
$3.94โฌ3.39
-5.58%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23เธฟ73.0
$1.42โฌ1.22
57.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83เธฟ59.9
$1.37โฌ1.18
33.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17เธฟ70.9
$1.51โฌ1.30
43.71%
Eggs
$2.21เธฟ72.4
$2.66โฌ2.29
-16.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74เธฟ645
$16.92โฌ14.57
16.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63เธฟ119
$8.89โฌ7.65
-59.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53เธฟ442
$16.78โฌ14.45
-19.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28เธฟ107
$2.58โฌ2.22
27.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ52.7
$2.15โฌ1.85
-25.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41เธฟ78.7
$2.53โฌ2.18
-4.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ68.1
$3.56โฌ3.07
-41.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53เธฟ49.97
$2.08โฌ1.79
-26.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.41
$2.25โฌ1.94
-34.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99เธฟ32.32
$1.41โฌ1.21
-29.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.68
$0.78โฌ0.67
-34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41เธฟ144
$6.41โฌ5.52
-31.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38เธฟ634
$8.24โฌ7.10
135.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78เธฟ58.1
$1.19โฌ1.02
49.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71เธฟ88.7
$2.42โฌ2.08
11.98%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37เธฟ44.83
$1.70โฌ1.46
-19.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39เธฟ372
$34.48โฌ29.69
-66.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02เธฟ98.7
$2.41โฌ2.08
25.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99เธฟ32.51
$0.94โฌ0.81
5.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10เธฟ461
$28.89โฌ24.87
-51.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36เธฟ44.55
$1.86โฌ1.60
-26.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2Kเธฟ921.9K
$37.4Kโฌ32.2K
-24.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$29.7Kโฌ25.6K
10.68%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122เธฟ3,978
$114โฌ98.1
6.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57เธฟ444
$20.67โฌ17.80
-34.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31เธฟ599
$36.32โฌ31.28
-49.59%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2เธฟ1,969
$48.61โฌ41.86
23.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14เธฟ560
$15.18โฌ13.07
12.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69เธฟ284
$9.96โฌ8.57
-12.75%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693เธฟ22.7K
$520โฌ447
33.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7Kเธฟ512.8K
$8,160โฌ7,026
92.25%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,946
$74.6โฌ64.2
-20.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77เธฟ1,137
$41.49โฌ35.73
-16.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,746
$89.7โฌ77.2
27.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3เธฟ2,723
$112โฌ96.3
-25.54%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613เธฟ20.0K
$842โฌ725
-27.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.3K
$701โฌ603
-37.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094เธฟ68.5K
$1,325โฌ1,141
58.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ49.3K
$989โฌ852
52.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749เธฟ122.6K
$3,478โฌ2,995
7.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616เธฟ85.5K
$2,230โฌ1,921
17.28%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alcorcรณn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508เธฟ16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.43
55.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Alcorcรณn: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $842 in Alcorcรณn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $57.0 in Alcorcรณn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $297 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 Alcorcรณn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alcorcรณn cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $2,501 in Alcorcรณn 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Alcorcรณn?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $842 in Alcorcรณn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Alcorcรณn?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,667 in Alcorcรณn โ a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 203% less than in Alcorcรณn. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Alcorcรณn?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,667 in Alcorcรณn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alcorcรณn. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Alcorcรณn more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alcorcรณn, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Alcorcรณn?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alcorcรณn 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 32% less than in Alcorcรณn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.