Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azores Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azores

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,639 in Azores, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $2,368 in Azores, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,097 in Azores, rent included.

Phuket is about 24% cheaper than Azores, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Azores is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$11.54 €10.12
-60.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,557
$46.05 €40.38
0.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$9.05 €7.93
-2.32%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.17 €1.90
41.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.46
$1.86 €1.63
-60.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.42
$1.42 €1.25
-71.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿82.0
$2.29 €2.01
6.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.41 €2.99
10.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.2
$1.07 €0.93
111.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿61.0
$1.54 €1.35
17.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿76.0
$1.63 €1.43
38.04%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.7
$3.09 €2.71
-27.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿658
$11.43 €10.02
70.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$7.65 €6.71
-52.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿440
$14.11 €12.37
-7.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.28 €2.00
41.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.5
$1.43 €1.25
13.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.3
$1.79 €1.57
32.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.3
$2.58 €2.26
-21.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.7
$1.47 €1.29
4.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.94 €1.70
-22.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.99
$1.60 €1.40
-38.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.43
$0.84 €0.74
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿150
$5.90 €5.18
-24.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿618
$5.13 €4.50
257.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.8
$1.26 €1.10
47.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.4
$2.37 €2.08
13.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Azores
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.57
$2.34 €2.05
-39.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$42.31 €37.10
-72.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$4.10 €3.60
-24.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.14
$0.85 €0.74
22.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿476
$17.02 €14.92
-17.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.20
$1.99 €1.74
-34.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿937.7K
$35.1K €30.8K
-20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$39.0K €34.2K
-14.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,127
$136 €119
-10.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿458
$21.35 €18.72
-36.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿630
$42.56 €37.32
-56.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,039
$44.60 €39.10
35.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿306
$8.63 €7.57
5.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$468 €410
51.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿532.8K
$8,231 €7,217
92.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,974
$73.9 €64.8
-20.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,192
$37.88 €33.22
-6.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,892
$91.0 €79.8
26.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,823
$92.3 €80.9
-9.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Azores
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$910 €798
-31.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$738 €647
-39.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.8K
$1,488 €1,304
37.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.3K
$1,149 €1,007
29.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.4K
$3,013 €2,642
15.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.9K
$2,294 €2,011
12.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Azores
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.01
6.39%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Azores: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $910 in Azores. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $46.00 in Azores. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $246 in Azores – so Azores wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Azores: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azores cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Azores is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $2,458 in Azores. 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Azores?
Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Azores – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Azores?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $46.00 in Azores. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Azores?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Azores at $1,639. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Azores it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Azores 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 Azores?
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, Azores makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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