Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ayutthaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ayutthaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $759 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,411 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,063 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

Phuket costs about 67% more than Ayutthaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ayutthaya are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Ayutthaya 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$1.79 ฿59.3
160.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$22.17 ฿733
45.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$6.35 ฿210
36.69%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.92 ฿63.5
51.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$0.75 ฿24.94
12.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.31 ฿10.29
58.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$2.16 ฿71.5
14.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.81 ฿92.7
32.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.52 ฿50.2
24.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$1.30 ฿42.95
8.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.26 ฿41.78
28.57%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$1.87 ฿61.7
19.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$11.96 ฿395
65.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$2.48 ฿82.0
40.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$10.10 ฿334
12.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$2.36 ฿78.1
22.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.02 ฿33.65
68.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$2.25 ฿74.3
0.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$1.41 ฿46.55
51.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$1.88 ฿62.1
-21.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$1.11 ฿36.82
27.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$0.85 ฿28.08
29.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.42 ฿14.02
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.56 ฿118
21.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$14.42 ฿476
28.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.64 ฿54.2
9.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.50 ฿82.5
18.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$0.92 ฿30.32
144.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$12.24 ฿405
91.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$1.49 ฿49.26
108.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$1.62 ฿53.6
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$3.55 ฿117
9.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.19 ฿39.26
20.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$16.7K ฿551.6K
66.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$27.1K ฿894.8K
-0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$84.6 ฿2,795
23.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$9.29 ฿307
22.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$14.23 ฿470
23.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$47.46 ฿1,568
14.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$12.84 ฿424
-10.90%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$4.59 ฿152
69.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$197 ฿6,515
192.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$10.9K ฿359.4K
6.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$59.8 ฿1,977
6.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$43.38 ฿1,433
-32.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$70.4 ฿2,325
36.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$61.6 ฿2,037
46.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$449 ฿14.8K
63.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$166 ฿5,493
201.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$1,403 ฿46.4K
51.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$754 ฿24.9K
66.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$1,851 ฿61.2K
90.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$1,412 ฿46.6K
85.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ayutthaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$1,000 ฿33.0K
-49.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3
85.67%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ayutthaya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $449 in Ayutthaya. 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 97% higher in Ayutthaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $22.00 in Ayutthaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $212 – making Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayutthaya cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,139 in Ayutthaya. 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 Ayutthaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $197 in Ayutthaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Ayutthaya?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Phuket, 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 living in Phuket or in Ayutthaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ayutthaya, where all-in costs run around $759, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ayutthaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Ayutthaya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ayutthaya – 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 Ayutthaya?
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 Ayutthaya. 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.

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