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: $1,265 in Phuket versus $884 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,450 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,015 in Alexandria.

Living in Phuket is roughly 43% more expensive than Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Alexandria 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$7.32 JMD 1,147
-35.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$61.7 JMD 9,669
-26.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.78 JMD 1,376
-3.99%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$4.40 JMD 689
-33.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.36 JMD 213
-49.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.72 JMD 112
-48.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.43 JMD 380
-0.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.05 JMD 478
21.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$4.24 JMD 665
-47.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$3.62 JMD 568
-49.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.55 JMD 243
40.00%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.46 JMD 543
-36.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$10.89 JMD 1,706
81.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.30 JMD 988
-42.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$7.49 JMD 1,174
80.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$6.05 JMD 948
-45.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$3.02 JMD 473
-46.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$4.15 JMD 650
-41.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.06 JMD 480
-32.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.10 JMD 329
-27.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.93 JMD 303
-23.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$3.11 JMD 488
-68.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$1.49 JMD 234
-65.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$8.69 JMD 1,361
-49.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$11.55 JMD 1,809
67.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.85 JMD 447
-37.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.05 JMD 478
-11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.12 JMD 175
169.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$3.20 JMD 501
-69.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$6.11 JMD 957
130.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.23 JMD 192
10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$43.3K JMD 6.8M
-34.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$33.0K JMD 5.2M
-0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$161 JMD 25.3K
-24.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$22.32 JMD 3,497
-39.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$51.2 JMD 8,016
-64.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$13.40 JMD 2,100
-35.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$229 JMD 35.9K
202.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$2,485 JMD 389.3K
531.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$25.84 JMD 4,049
130.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$25.62 JMD 4,014
35.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$71.5 JMD 11.2K
60.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$76.2 JMD 11.9K
9.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
9.15
-41.75%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $62.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $350 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 Alexandria?
Phuket and Alexandria differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $884 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 $1,898 in Phuket and $1,326 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 $693 in Phuket versus $229 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 $62.0 versus $45.00 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 $884 in Alexandria versus $1,265 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 43% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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