Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and ArianaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ariana
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $678 in Ariana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,077 in Ariana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,475 in Ariana, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 87% more than Ariana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Ariana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Ariana49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$4.02TND 11.69
16.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$16.60TND 48.21
173.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$4.99TND 14.50
68.94%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$0.81TND 2.34
261.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.64TND 1.85
7.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.23TND 0.67
60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.51TND 4.37
59.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$1.93TND 5.60
92.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.50TND 1.46
346.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.21TND 0.62
771.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.55TND 4.51
40.00%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$1.51TND 4.38
46.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$10.52TND 30.53
87.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$6.30TND 18.28
-42.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$13.66TND 39.65
-0.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.08TND 6.05
57.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$2.96TND 8.58
-45.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.16TND 3.37
107.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$0.76TND 2.21
173.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.79TND 2.30
93.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.67TND 1.94
120.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.52TND 1.50
90.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.29TND 0.83
75.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.62TND 10.52
21.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$7.62TND 22.12
154.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.29TND 3.73
37.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.57TND 4.56
72.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.32TND 0.94
328.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$10.08TND 29.28
13.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$0.32TND 0.94
843.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.33TND 0.96
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$4.35TND 12.62
224.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$0.83TND 2.40
63.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$36.8KTND 106.9K
-23.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$35.1KTND 102.0K
-6.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$58.7TND 170
107.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$10.01TND 29.07
35.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$20.70TND 60.1
-11.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$32.17TND 93.4
87.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$17.08TND 49.59
0.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$4.58TND 13.30
89.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$110TND 320
529.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$3,296TND 9,571
375.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$44.21TND 128
34.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$58.0TND 169
-40.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$94.8TND 275
20.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$66.5TND 193
25.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$246TND 713
149.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$157TND 457
177.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$446TND 1,296
369.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$294TND 853
413.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,163TND 3,376
222.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$733TND 2,129
256.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ariana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$344TND 998
47.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13.15
-59.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ariana: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $246 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 48% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Ariana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $194 – making Ariana 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 Ariana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Ariana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $678 in Ariana – roughly 87% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Ariana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,018 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 51% 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 $45.00 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 $678, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $678 in Ariana to $1,265 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.