Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,437 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,353 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,269 in Beirut.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 12% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Beirut is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$10.76 LBP 963.0K
-56.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$59.7 LBP 5.3M
-23.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.04 LBP 720.0K
4.85%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$3.27 LBP 292.4K
-10.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.58 LBP 141.4K
-56.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.92 LBP 82.4K
-59.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$3.45 LBP 308.9K
-30.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.06 LBP 453.3K
-26.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.79 LBP 160.5K
24.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.85 LBP 76.5K
115.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.82 LBP 163.3K
19.23%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.19 LBP 285.4K
-30.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$11.51 LBP 1.0M
71.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$9.60 LBP 859.6K
-62.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$11.36 LBP 1.0M
19.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.73 LBP 154.6K
89.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.45 LBP 129.4K
11.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.15 LBP 103.0K
109.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.08 LBP 96.9K
92.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.99 LBP 88.2K
54.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.04 LBP 92.8K
42.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.81 LBP 72.8K
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.52 LBP 46.7K
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.46 LBP 220.6K
79.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$9.95 LBP 890.6K
94.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.24 LBP 110.6K
43.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.20 LBP 197.3K
23.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.96 LBP 175.4K
-30.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-83.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$4.94 LBP 442.2K
-38.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.28 LBP 114.5K
-22.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$19.91 LBP 1.8M
-29.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$0.90 LBP 80.9K
51.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
-19.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.6K LBP 2.5B
19.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$218 LBP 19.5M
-44.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$37.46 LBP 3.4M
-63.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$37.30 LBP 3.3M
-50.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$68.4 LBP 6.1M
-11.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$29.84 LBP 2.7M
-42.56%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$8.13 LBP 727.3K
6.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$297 LBP 26.6M
133.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$4,404 LBP 394.1M
256.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$71.6 LBP 6.4M
-16.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$44.80 LBP 4.0M
-22.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$120 LBP 10.8M
-4.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$95.5 LBP 8.6M
-12.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$809 LBP 72.4M
-24.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$370 LBP 33.1M
18.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$2,023 LBP 181.0M
3.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$950 LBP 85.0M
58.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$3,685 LBP 329.8M
1.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,978 LBP 177.1M
32.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$651 LBP 58.2M
-21.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.16
-52.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beirut pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $236, with Beirut cheaper for home cooking.

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 Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Beirut?
On paper, Beirut earns 28% 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 Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $809 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 525% less than in Beirut. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Beirut?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,437 in Beirut, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Beirut more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Beirut?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Beirut 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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