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 $1,655 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $2,680 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $3,705 in Beirut.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Beirut is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$12.16 LBP 1.1M
-61.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$63.7 LBP 5.7M
-49.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$10.05 LBP 899.8K
-13.63%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.67 LBP 417.8K
-37.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$2.36 LBP 210.9K
-64.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.89 LBP 79.4K
-44.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$4.98 LBP 446.0K
-50.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$5.05 LBP 451.9K
-26.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.93 LBP 172.6K
-2.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$0.89 LBP 79.6K
58.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$2.14 LBP 192.0K
-24.30%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$3.65 LBP 326.4K
-38.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$13.65 LBP 1.2M
45.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$10.78 LBP 965.1K
-67.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$14.25 LBP 1.3M
-20.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$3.08 LBP 275.6K
-5.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.70 LBP 152.1K
1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$1.66 LBP 148.8K
36.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$1.49 LBP 133.1K
42.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$1.36 LBP 121.3K
8.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$1.66 LBP 148.5K
-14.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$1.17 LBP 104.7K
-5.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.74 LBP 66.2K
-18.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.03 LBP 271.5K
42.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$9.80 LBP 877.2K
89.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.31 LBP 117.4K
37.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.49 LBP 222.5K
19.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$2.24 LBP 200.2K
0.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$77.1 LBP 6.9M
-69.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$4.88 LBP 436.8K
-36.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$2.30 LBP 206.3K
-53.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$22.46 LBP 2.0M
-82.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.00 LBP 89.9K
43.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$52.5K LBP 4.7B
-47.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$32.5K LBP 2.9B
-16.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$227 LBP 20.4M
-53.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$23.70 LBP 2.1M
-51.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$38.37 LBP 3.4M
-54.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$84.7 LBP 7.6M
-35.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$34.38 LBP 3.1M
-66.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$10.15 LBP 908.6K
-23.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$680 LBP 60.9M
-15.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$10.8K LBP 967.7M
7.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$68.6 LBP 6.1M
-7.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$49.01 LBP 4.4M
-40.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$138 LBP 12.4M
-30.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$121 LBP 10.8M
-25.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$929 LBP 83.1M
-21.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$504 LBP 45.1M
-0.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$2,255 LBP 201.8M
-5.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$1,058 LBP 94.7M
18.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$3,902 LBP 349.3M
-9.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$1,805 LBP 161.6M
45.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$716 LBP 64.1M
-29.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Beirut: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $929 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beirut pays 41% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $64.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $281 per month, with Phuket 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 Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Beirut?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Beirut. 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: $733 in Phuket versus $929 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,655 in Beirut – a 31% 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 228% 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 living in Phuket or in Beirut?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,655 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 31% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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