Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arue Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,063 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,551 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,039 in Arue.

Living in Phuket is roughly 19% more expensive than Arue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Arue 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.40 CFPF 143

59.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$4.96 CFPF 506

-63.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$3.82 CFPF 391

-43.19%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$11.58 CFPF 1,183

-80.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$57.7 CFPF 5,895

-65.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$27.32 CFPF 2,790

-86.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$24.66 CFPF 2,519

-45.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$5.27 CFPF 539

-37.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.97 CFPF 304

-45.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$7.99 CFPF 816

-69.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$8.66 CFPF 885

-75.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$4.34 CFPF 444

-64.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$2.89 CFPF 295

-48.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$3.80 CFPF 388

-73.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.48 CFPF 151

-65.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$12.07 CFPF 1,233

-63.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$29.51 CFPF 3,015

-34.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$2.95 CFPF 301

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$7.99 CFPF 816

-66.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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)

$122 ฿3,975

$167 CFPF 17.1K

-27.21%

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$124 CFPF 12.7K

-85.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Arue: May 31, 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 Arue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arue wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,594 in Arue to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 163% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,063 in Arue – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,063 in Arue versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Arue but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Arue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Arue delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,063 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Arue hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Arue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.