😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $902 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,401 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,900 in Alexandria.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 36% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Alexandria34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$8.89RON 40.78
-50.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$31.83RON 146
1.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$7.90RON 36.24
13.04%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.74RON 7.97
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.91RON 8.78
-53.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$1.57RON 7.19
-69.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$2.24RON 10.28
4.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.65RON 12.17
40.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.51RON 6.92
23.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.85RON 3.92
72.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.18RON 5.41
31.36%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.19RON 10.05
-4.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$5.31RON 24.38
268.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$4.55RON 20.88
-24.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$8.08RON 37.07
40.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$0.94RON 4.29
217.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.20RON 5.49
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.01RON 4.63
118.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.03RON 4.73
109.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.69RON 3.18
120.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.64RON 2.95
109.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.75RON 3.42
50.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.91RON 4.15
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$5.51RON 25.27
-22.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$5.37RON 24.64
255.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$0.96RON 4.40
85.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.11RON 5.10
150.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.68RON 3.12
227.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$43.97RON 202
-48.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.45RON 2.08
573.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.45RON 2.08
126.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$5.66RON 25.97
-31.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.72RON 7.90
-13.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$16.9KRON 77.5K
57.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$24.3KRON 111.4K
11.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$120RON 549
-14.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$5.56RON 25.52
103.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$8.20RON 37.64
112.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$61.4RON 282
-15.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$26.11RON 120
-57.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$6.54RON 29.99
17.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$323RON 1,483
73.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$7,000RON 32.1K
64.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$55.3RON 254
14.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$23.39RON 107
26.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$66.4RON 304
47.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$65.1RON 299
35.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$323RON 1,484
128.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$253RON 1,160
90.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$597RON 2,740
252.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$443RON 2,032
176.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,315RON 6,032
175.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$829RON 3,802
214.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$886RON 4,064
-44.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.73
-17.24%
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 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $323 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $32.00 in Alexandria. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $156, with Alexandria 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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Alexandria?
Alexandria wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Alexandria?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Alexandria. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Alexandria?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $323 in Alexandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Alexandria?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $902 in Alexandria – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Alexandria?
A monthly transit pass in Alexandria runs roughly 93% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Alexandria?
At $902 in Alexandria versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Alexandria?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $902 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Alexandria?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.