😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $894 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,431 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,967 in Alexandria.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 40% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Alexandria33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$7.64JMD 1,206
-40.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$63.5JMD 10.0K
-27.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$8.82JMD 1,392
0.23%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$4.31JMD 679
-29.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.30JMD 206
-43.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.70JMD 111
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.46JMD 388
-1.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.15JMD 497
20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$4.20JMD 663
-46.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$3.63JMD 573
-50.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.62JMD 255
38.89%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.57JMD 563
-36.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$11.13JMD 1,756
75.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.31JMD 995
-42.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$7.49JMD 1,182
74.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$6.16JMD 972
-47.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$3.09JMD 488
-47.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$4.27JMD 674
-44.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.95JMD 465
-31.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.10JMD 332
-27.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.93JMD 305
-22.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$3.00JMD 474
-67.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.45JMD 229
-64.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$8.85JMD 1,396
-49.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$11.40JMD 1,799
60.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$2.81JMD 443
-33.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$3.20JMD 505
-16.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.08JMD 171
187.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$3.21JMD 507
-67.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$6.11JMD 963
130.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.23JMD 194
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$43.7KJMD 6.9M
-36.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$33.8KJMD 5.3M
-1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$162JMD 25.5K
-24.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$21.86JMD 3,449
-37.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$50.5JMD 7,960
-62.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$13.21JMD 2,084
-31.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$227JMD 35.9K
210.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$2,437JMD 384.6K
548.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$25.71JMD 4,057
127.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$26.05JMD 4,111
35.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$72.1JMD 11.4K
60.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$76.1JMD 12.0K
10.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $64.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $351 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 40% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $894 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 $1,875 in Phuket and $1,342 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 $706 in Phuket versus $227 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 $64.0 versus $46.00 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 $894 in Alexandria versus $1,250 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 40% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.