Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Atenas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Atenas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,317 in Atenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,246 in Atenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,175 in Atenas, rent included.

Phuket is about 4% cheaper than Atenas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Atenas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Atenas 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$9.13 ₡4,172
-48.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$51.1 ₡23.3K
-11.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$10.11 ₡4,621
-16.62%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$3.75 ₡1,712
-21.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$2.04 ₡932
-66.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.58 ₡722
-76.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$3.04 ₡1,389
-20.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$4.62 ₡2,109
-19.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$2.03 ₡928
9.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$2.88 ₡1,318
-36.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.02 ₡922
7.43%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.89 ₡1,319
-23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.67 ₡4,419
104.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$8.71 ₡3,977
-58.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.45 ₡4,319
43.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$4.04 ₡1,845
-18.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.46 ₡665
10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.40 ₡1,098
0.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.14 ₡977
-2.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$3.46 ₡1,581
-55.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.37 ₡1,084
-37.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.01 ₡462
-1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$2.85 ₡1,304
-82.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$5.29 ₡2,416
-16.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$18.62 ₡8,507
4.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.39 ₡1,094
-25.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.33 ₡1,064
16.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.95 ₡889
-29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.87 ₡854
61.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.77 ₡810
-44.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$7.97 ₡3,641
76.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.42 ₡648
-4.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$37.3K ₡17.0M
-24.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$32.2K ₡14.7M
2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$94.9 ₡43.3K
28.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$26.36 ₡12.0K
-48.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$47.53 ₡21.7K
-61.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$40.43 ₡18.5K
48.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$9.73 ₡4,447
76.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$8.57 ₡3,917
1.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$580 ₡264.9K
19.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$6,059 ₡2.8M
158.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$62.1 ₡28.4K
-4.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$49.88 ₡22.8K
-30.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$121 ₡55.3K
-5.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$107 ₡48.7K
-21.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$545 ₡249.1K
12.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$404 ₡184.4K
8.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,362 ₡622.1K
53.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,148 ₡524.7K
31.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Atenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$1,306 ₡596.6K
-61.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.17
-47.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Atenas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $545 in Atenas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 157% higher in Atenas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Atenas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $326 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Atenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atenas cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Atenas is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,975 in Atenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Atenas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $51.0 in Atenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Atenas?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Atenas, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Atenas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Atenas at $1,317. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atenas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Atenas more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Atenas?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atenas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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