Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arsuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arsuk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $183 in Arsuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $299 in Arsuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $415 in Arsuk, rent included.

Phuket costs about 571% more than Arsuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Arsuk are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Arsuk 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$23.47 DKK 150

-80.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿614

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿89.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿883.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,063

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿66.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Arsuk: April 27, 2026

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 Arsuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 571%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $275 in Arsuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Arsuk, where all-in costs run around $183, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Arsuk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arsuk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Arsuk. 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.