Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AssisCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Assis
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $770 in Assis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,226 in Assis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,681 in Assis.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 64% more expensive than Assis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Assis43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$5.48R$28.24
-14.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,489
$27.09R$140
67.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿277
$6.13R$31.60
37.52%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿96.1
$1.71R$8.80
71.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.50
$1.08R$5.57
-36.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.04
$0.62R$3.18
-40.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.78R$9.17
35.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.74R$14.09
35.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.3
$1.01R$5.23
120.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿60.1
$1.24R$6.36
47.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿71.1
$1.76R$9.05
23.30%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.6
$1.42R$7.33
55.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿648
$6.97R$35.92
183.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$4.81R$24.78
-24.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿444
$7.82R$40.27
73.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿108
$2.11R$10.88
55.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.9
$1.10R$5.64
46.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.11R$5.70
117.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.75R$9.00
18.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.2
$1.75R$9.02
-12.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.58
$1.06R$5.44
39.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.44
$0.80R$4.10
23.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.74
$0.93R$4.82
-45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿145
$2.11R$10.88
109.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿636
$6.28R$32.32
208.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.4
$1.22R$6.28
45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿89.0
$1.99R$10.25
36.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Assis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.99
$0.93R$4.80
47.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿374
$38.23R$197
-70.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿99.1
$1.10R$5.69
174.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.63
$0.74R$3.82
33.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿463
$6.46R$33.28
118.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.71
$1.05R$5.40
29.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿925.3K
$20.7KR$106.6K
36.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$28.1KR$144.8K
17.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,993
$59.7R$308
103.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿445
$13.72R$70.7
-1.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿601
$18.82R$97.0
-2.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,976
$22.93R$118
162.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿562
$21.71R$112
-21.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿285
$6.17R$31.77
40.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.8K
$268R$1,379
159.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿514.7K
$6,442R$33.2K
143.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,953
$49.59R$255
20.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,141
$41.46R$214
-16.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,760
$74.6R$384
53.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,733
$63.4R$327
31.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Assis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.1K
$312R$1,605
96.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$216R$1,111
102.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.7K
$590R$3,040
254.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.5K
$427R$2,200
253.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿123.0K
$1,366R$7,039
174.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.8K
$1,214R$6,254
115.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
$585R$3,011
-13.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Assis: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $312 in Assis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Assis pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Assis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $178 per month, with Assis cheaper across the board.
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 Assis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Assis cheaper than Phuket?
Assis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Assis?
On paper, Assis earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Assis?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $312 in Assis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Assis runs roughly 236% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $268 in Assis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Assis?
At $770 in Assis versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assis but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Assis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Assis more family-friendly?
For families, Assis is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Assis?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Assis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Assis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.