Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arlon

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,033 in Arlon, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Arlon, Belgium
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Arlon
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,033
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Arlon

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,033 in Arlon, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Arlon $2,033

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,132 in Arlon, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Arlon $3,132

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $4,232 in Arlon, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Arlon $4,232

Phuket is about 37% cheaper than Arlon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Arlon is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$17.02 €15.29
-73.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$91.1 €81.8
-64.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.21 €10.07
-21.41%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$2.86 €2.57
-1.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$2.68 €2.41
-67.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$2.58 €2.32
-81.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$3.41 €3.06
-24.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$4.39 €3.94
-16.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.19 €1.07
39.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$1.54 €1.39
-5.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.36 €2.12
-36.44%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.77 €3.39
-44.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$14.58 €13.09
30.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$11.54 €10.36
-71.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$15.33 €13.77
-28.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$3.05 €2.74
-3.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.09 €0.98
55.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.18 €1.96
3.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$3.05 €2.74
-31.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.67 €1.50
-9.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$2.08 €1.87
-33.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.71 €1.54
-37.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$1.11 €1.00
-53.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$8.99 €8.08
-53.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.92 €7.11
137.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.01 €1.81
-9.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$1.10 €0.99
158.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$2.24 €2.01
-35.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$41.07 €36.89
37.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.95 €3.55
-23.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$2.61 €2.35
-60.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$16.95 €15.23
-78.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.99 €1.78
-26.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$35.5K €31.9K
-24.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$36.6K €32.9K
-27.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$263 €236
-63.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$24.91 €22.37
-54.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$52.8 €47.43
-68.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$24.29 €21.82
-55.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.08 €8.15
-17.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$851 €765
-44.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$85.4 €76.7
-27.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$50.5 €45.38
-43.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$49.54 €44.50
90.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$111 €99.4
-22.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$897 €806
-20.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$921 €827
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,681 €1,510
14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,701 €1,528
-15.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$4,215 €3,786
-0.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$3,897 €3,501
-21.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Arlon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$2,868 €2,576
-82.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.65
52.60%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Arlon: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Arlon
$921 87.6% $430
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Arlon
$302 13.6% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Arlon
$341 174% $216
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Arlon
$133 9.3% $11
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Arlon
$251 106% $129
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Arlon
$18 * 77.9% $64
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Arlon
$67 5% $3.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $897 in Arlon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Arlon are about 5.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $91 in Arlon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $302 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇪 Arlon
🕒 Local time
03:22 3:22 AM
21:22 9:22 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
28,759
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Arlon 9,520 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Arlon

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 Arlon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Arlon?
Arlon costs about 59% 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 Arlon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,050 in Arlon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Arlon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $897 in Arlon.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Arlon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $2,033 in Arlon. That makes Phuket about 37% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Arlon?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Arlon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Arlon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Arlon at $2,033. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arlon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Phuket compared to Arlon?
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 Arlon?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arlon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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