Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ankara Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ankara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,281 in Ankara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,825 in Ankara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,370 in Ankara, rent included.

Phuket is about 2% cheaper than Ankara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ankara are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ankara 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$9.60 ₺453
-52.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$37.78 ₺1,782
22.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$8.76 ₺413
0.91%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$3.16 ₺149
-3.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$1.21 ₺57.3
-39.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.39 ₺18.17
2.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$3.21 ₺151
-24.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.92 ₺185
-3.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.01 ₺47.63
123.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.71 ₺33.39
154.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.30 ₺108
-2.17%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.27 ₺107
-0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$9.32 ₺440
109.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$5.97 ₺282
-38.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$19.67 ₺928
-33.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.45 ₺68.6
122.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.29 ₺108
-29.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.33 ₺62.6
78.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$1.48 ₺69.8
37.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.68 ₺31.99
125.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.62 ₺29.07
141.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.13 ₺53.4
-13.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.42 ₺19.92
23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$2.14 ₺101
107.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$11.72 ₺553
56.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$2.02 ₺95.4
-7.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$3.24 ₺153
-17.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.64 ₺30.40
120.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$9.55 ₺451
22.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.93 ₺43.71
234.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.61 ₺28.57
70.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$6.18 ₺291
128.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.18 ₺55.8
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$43.3K ₺2.0M
-35.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$42.9K ₺2.0M
-22.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$84.2 ₺3,971
45.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$10.61 ₺501
28.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$13.79 ₺651
35.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$54.8 ₺2,586
10.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$14.53 ₺686
16.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$6.25 ₺295
45.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$602 ₺28.4K
17.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$13.4K ₺634.3K
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$58.3 ₺2,751
0.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$45.23 ₺2,134
-21.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$107 ₺5,063
7.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$98.7 ₺4,658
-15.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$726 ₺34.3K
-13.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$523 ₺24.7K
-14.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$1,091 ₺51.5K
86.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$703 ₺33.2K
112.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$1,716 ₺81.0K
102.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$1,137 ₺53.7K
126.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ankara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,095 ₺51.7K
-54.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
48.4
-88.99%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ankara: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $726 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 run about 119% higher in Ankara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $38.00 in Ankara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $239 – making Ankara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 2% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,921 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Ankara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Ankara?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $602 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 21% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Ankara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Ankara at $1,281. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ankara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $1,281 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ankara?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or to Ankara?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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