Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ankara

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,393 in Ankara, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Ankara, Turkey
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Ankara
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,393
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ankara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Ankara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,393 in Ankara, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Ankara $1,393

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,079 in Ankara, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Ankara $2,079

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,765 in Ankara, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Ankara $2,765

Phuket is about 8% cheaper than Ankara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Ankara is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$9.90 ₺493
-54.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$42.89 ₺2,137
-24.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.31 ₺464
-5.37%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$4.15 ₺207
-31.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.66 ₺82.6
-47.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.76 ₺37.94
-35.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$5.15 ₺257
-50.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$5.85 ₺292
-37.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.20 ₺59.9
38.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.99 ₺49.46
47.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.15 ₺107
-30.23%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.69 ₺134
-22.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$10.22 ₺510
86.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$5.45 ₺272
-39.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$20.32 ₺1,013
-46.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.91 ₺95.0
53.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.28 ₺113
-25.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.27 ₺63.2
77.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$1.64 ₺81.7
26.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.67 ₺33.28
125.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.57 ₺28.55
142.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.03 ₺51.3
3.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.64 ₺31.69
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$2.19 ₺109
91.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$12.46 ₺621
50.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.24 ₺112
-18.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$3.11 ₺155
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.82 ₺40.87
76.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$11.86 ₺591
377.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.28 ₺63.8
135.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.81 ₺40.61
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$6.46 ₺322
-42.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.40 ₺69.7
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$47.9K ₺2.4M
-44.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$40.3K ₺2.0M
-33.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$93.1 ₺4,639
3.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$10.72 ₺534
5.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$17.87 ₺891
-5.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$72.2 ₺3,597
-6.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$15.34 ₺765
-30.05%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$8.04 ₺401
-6.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$1,032 ₺51.4K
-53.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$19.2K ₺955.7K
-41.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$53.4 ₺2,659
16.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$48.30 ₺2,407
-41.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$104 ₺5,196
-9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$96.0 ₺4,786
-10.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$765 ₺38.1K
-6.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$569 ₺28.4K
-13.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,127 ₺56.2K
70.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$893 ₺44.5K
60.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$1,678 ₺83.6K
148.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,158 ₺57.7K
162.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$1,053 ₺52.5K
-52.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
43.57
-87.22%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ankara: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Ankara
$569 15.9% $78
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Ankara
$254 4.6% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Ankara
$122 2.2% $2.8
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Ankara
$136 11.5% $14
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Ankara
$204 67.7% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Ankara
$88 7.3% $6
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Ankara
$21 71% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $765 in Ankara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Ankara are about 2.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $43 in Ankara. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $254 in Ankara – so Ankara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇹🇷 Ankara
🕒 Local time
05:06 5:06 AM
01:06 1:06 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
5,864,049 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 49.83 TRY (100 TRY = 2.01 USD). 1 EUR = 55.48 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ankara 7,370 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ankara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ankara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Ankara?
Ankara costs about 9% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Ankara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,090 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Ankara?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $716 in Phuket and $765 in Ankara. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Ankara?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $1,032 in Ankara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Ankara?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ankara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,278 versus $1,393 in Ankara. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ankara?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Phuket or to Ankara?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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