Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ariana

For one person, living is cheaper in Ariana: $666 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Ariana
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$666
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ariana

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 Ariana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $666 in Ariana, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Ariana $666

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $1,039 in Ariana, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Ariana $1,039

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $1,413 in Ariana, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Ariana $1,413

Phuket costs about 81% more than Ariana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Ariana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Ariana 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$4.44 TND 13.29
3.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$17.44 TND 52.3
86.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$4.77 TND 14.29
79.25%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.11 TND 3.33
145.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$0.66 TND 1.97
42.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.33 TND 1.00
48.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.65 TND 4.95
56.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$1.38 TND 4.12
177.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$0.52 TND 1.56
234.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$0.26 TND 0.78
450.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$1.77 TND 5.30
-13.56%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.55 TND 4.64
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$7.27 TND 21.79
163.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$6.03 TND 18.06
-45.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$11.19 TND 33.52
-0.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$1.66 TND 4.97
77.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$2.65 TND 7.93
-36.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.12 TND 3.34
105.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$0.76 TND 2.28
180.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$0.80 TND 2.40
91.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$0.71 TND 2.11
91.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$0.52 TND 1.57
115.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.33 TND 0.99
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$3.43 TND 10.28
24.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$6.78 TND 20.30
168.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.24 TND 3.70
40.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$1.58 TND 4.73
76.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$0.35 TND 1.04
534.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$10.04 TND 30.07
119.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$0.30 TND 0.89
870.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$0.33 TND 1.00
206.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$1.75 TND 5.25
118.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$0.82 TND 2.44
81.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$37.3K TND 111.7K
-28.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$33.3K TND 99.7K
-19.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$59.8 TND 179
66.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$9.20 TND 27.55
22.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$20.51 TND 61.4
-15.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$31.26 TND 93.6
67.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$16.96 TND 50.8
-36.03%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$4.36 TND 13.07
73.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$103 TND 308
443.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$3,289 TND 9,850
249.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$38.46 TND 115
63.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$58.2 TND 174
-50.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$90.1 TND 270
6.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$65.7 TND 197
34.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$244 TND 731
198.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$160 TND 479
187.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$441 TND 1,322
374.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$292 TND 876
317.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$1,110 TND 3,324
211.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$732 TND 2,193
239.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$331 TND 991
49.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.67
-47.80%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ariana: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Ariana
$160 65.2% $300
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Ariana
$172 35.8% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Ariana
$89 30.1% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Ariana
$114 8.4% $10
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Ariana
$78 35.6% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Ariana
$40 40.7% $27
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Ariana
$13 65.6% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $244 in Ariana. 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 49% higher in Phuket, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Ariana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $172 – making Ariana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇹🇳 Ariana
🕒 Local time
00:54 12:54 AM
18:54 6:54 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
114,486
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ariana 9,320 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ariana

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 Ariana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Ariana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,207 in Phuket, $666 in Ariana – roughly 81% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Ariana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $1,000 in Ariana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Ariana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ariana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $17.00 in Ariana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ariana, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Phuket at $1,207. In Ariana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ariana?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $666 in Ariana to $1,207 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Ariana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Ariana?
If budget matters most, go with Ariana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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