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: $1,264 in Phuket versus $847 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,411 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,975 in Alexandria.

Living in Phuket is roughly 49% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Alexandria 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$9.27 RON 42.12
-51.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$32.98 RON 150
38.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$6.86 RON 31.17
27.70%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$1.87 RON 8.48
58.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$1.94 RON 8.81
-64.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$1.65 RON 7.50
-76.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$2.37 RON 10.75
6.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.84 RON 12.92
32.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$1.39 RON 6.34
54.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$1.21 RON 5.49
50.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.41 RON 6.41
54.61%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$1.35 RON 6.14
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$5.41 RON 24.58
269.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$4.53 RON 20.60
-19.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$8.83 RON 40.13
53.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$0.89 RON 4.03
264.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$1.56 RON 7.10
5.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$1.12 RON 5.07
108.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$1.18 RON 5.37
75.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$0.44 RON 2.02
252.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$0.71 RON 3.23
105.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$0.48 RON 2.17
104.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.66 RON 3.02
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$5.44 RON 24.74
-20.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$5.35 RON 24.31
247.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$0.71 RON 3.22
161.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$0.93 RON 4.24
184.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$0.67 RON 3.03
111.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
$23.47 RON 107
-50.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$0.44 RON 2.01
620.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$0.44 RON 2.00
134.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$4.99 RON 22.69
178.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.57 RON 7.16
-14.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$17.9K RON 81.6K
54.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$23.6K RON 107.5K
41.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$119 RON 542
3.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$7.10 RON 32.27
93.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$6.81 RON 30.98
169.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$37.79 RON 172
60.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$9.06 RON 41.17
89.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$4.51 RON 20.50
96.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$428 RON 1,947
60.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$6,898 RON 31.4K
128.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$69.6 RON 317
-14.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$33.86 RON 154
2.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$67.9 RON 309
69.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$69.2 RON 315
20.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$343 RON 1,558
81.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$232 RON 1,053
92.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$821 RON 3,732
147.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$576 RON 2,618
159.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$1,282 RON 5,828
169.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$827 RON 3,758
206.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$882 RON 4,009
-44.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.5
-18.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $343 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $155 per month, with Alexandria 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
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Alexandria?
Alexandria wins on cost – living expenses run 49% 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: $621 in Phuket versus $343 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 $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $847 in Alexandria – a 49% 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 103% 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 $847 in Alexandria versus $1,264 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 $847 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 49% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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