Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alexandria Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alexandria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,054 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,700 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,346 in Alexandria.

Living in Phuket is roughly 17% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Alexandria 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$15.67 JMD 2,459
-71.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$77.2 JMD 12.1K
-58.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$8.79 JMD 1,380
1.59%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$5.46 JMD 857
-46.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.19 JMD 187
-26.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.73 JMD 115
-34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$2.27 JMD 356
3.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$3.22 JMD 505
15.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$4.25 JMD 666
-56.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$3.71 JMD 582
-60.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.65 JMD 259
-6.06%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$3.47 JMD 545
-39.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$11.54 JMD 1,810
69.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$6.43 JMD 1,008
-46.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$10.27 JMD 1,611
10.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$6.12 JMD 961
-51.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$3.93 JMD 617
-57.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$7.22 JMD 1,132
-69.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$3.11 JMD 488
-30.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$3.32 JMD 522
-54.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$2.74 JMD 429
-51.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$3.00 JMD 471
-62.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.51 JMD 238
-63.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$9.58 JMD 1,504
-55.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$11.39 JMD 1,787
67.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$2.94 JMD 461
-39.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$4.10 JMD 644
-32.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.22 JMD 192
148.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$3.22 JMD 505
-68.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$6.21 JMD 974
-37.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.39 JMD 218
7.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$44.6K JMD 7.0M
-40.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$32.4K JMD 5.1M
-16.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$177 JMD 27.7K
-42.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$29.86 JMD 4,685
-62.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$53.6 JMD 8,403
-67.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$13.44 JMD 2,109
-42.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$368 JMD 57.7K
52.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$8,319 JMD 1.3M
38.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$23.65 JMD 3,710
166.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$31.07 JMD 4,875
-4.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$78.8 JMD 12.4K
24.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$102 JMD 15.9K
-12.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria
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
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.45
-41.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $77.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $388 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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Alexandria?
Phuket and Alexandria differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,054 including rent). Alexandria 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 Alexandria?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,581 in Alexandria 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 difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Alexandria?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $368 in Alexandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alexandria – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,054 in Alexandria versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Alexandria?
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 Alexandria safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alexandria 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 Alexandria?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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