Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Assis Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Assis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $775 in Assis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,236 in Assis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,698 in Assis.

Living in Phuket is roughly 63% more expensive than in Assis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Assis 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿153
$5.31 R$26.88
-14.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,565
$27.04 R$137
71.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿292
$6.26 R$31.68
38.18%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$1.79 R$9.07
72.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.89
$1.13 R$5.69
-39.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.44
$0.63 R$3.17
-41.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$1.83 R$9.24
32.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿129
$2.65 R$13.43
43.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$1.00 R$5.07
118.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.3
$1.28 R$6.46
42.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.5
$1.83 R$9.26
19.13%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.4
$1.44 R$7.27
55.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿673
$6.65 R$33.66
199.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿123
$4.85 R$24.51
-24.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿458
$7.97 R$40.29
70.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$2.17 R$11.00
51.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.11 R$5.62
52.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.8
$1.10 R$5.58
111.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.4
$1.70 R$8.57
19.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$1.76 R$8.90
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.5
$1.10 R$5.55
35.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.17
$0.83 R$4.20
21.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.88 R$4.47
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$2.16 R$10.92
106.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿629
$5.99 R$30.29
211.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.3
$1.20 R$6.09
49.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.4
$1.99 R$10.05
40.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Assis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.90
$0.93 R$4.72
52.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿382
$38.17 R$193
-70.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$1.10 R$5.55
180.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.19
$0.71 R$3.59
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿460
$6.38 R$32.26
113.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.23
$1.08 R$5.46
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿920.7K
$20.5K R$103.8K
32.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$28.1K R$142.1K
18.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,157
$59.5 R$301
106.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿466
$13.32 R$67.4
3.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿625
$18.53 R$93.7
-0.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,037
$22.96 R$116
162.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿567
$21.28 R$108
-21.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿300
$6.40 R$32.37
38.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.2K
$266 R$1,346
158.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿524.8K
$6,550 R$33.1K
137.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,945
$48.37 R$245
19.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,170
$41.65 R$211
-16.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,879
$77.0 R$389
49.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,865
$63.7 R$322
33.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Assis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.8K
$309 R$1,563
99.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿15.0K
$217 R$1,100
103.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿69.1K
$594 R$3,004
244.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.8K
$437 R$2,212
244.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿120.4K
$1,415 R$7,156
152.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.7K
$1,107 R$5,598
126.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Assis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿17.0K
$590 R$2,984
-14.79%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Assis: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $309 in Assis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Assis pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Assis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Assis?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Assis. 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: $618 in Phuket versus $309 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 237% 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 $687 in Phuket versus $266 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 living in Phuket or in Assis?
At $775 in Assis versus $1,261 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 63% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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