🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,197 in Biarritz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $3,340 in Biarritz.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $4,484 in Biarritz.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 42% less than in Biarritz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Biarritz is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$20.70€18.05
-78.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$63.7€55.5
-28.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$11.48€10.01
-23.69%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$3.67€3.20
-19.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$2.93€2.55
-76.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$1.65€1.44
-76.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$8.15€7.10
-68.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$7.10€6.19
-47.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$1.22€1.07
76.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$1.70€1.48
7.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$2.39€2.08
-8.79%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$5.11€4.45
-55.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$15.53€13.54
28.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$16.92€14.75
-78.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$22.75€19.83
-40.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$3.11€2.71
4.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$2.25€1.96
-27.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$3.11€2.71
-25.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$4.65€4.05
-55.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$2.49€2.17
-37.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$2.65€2.31
-44.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$1.82€1.58
-46.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.66€0.57
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$13.77€12.00
-68.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$10.12€8.83
83.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$2.85€2.48
-34.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$3.23€2.81
-17.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$1.38€1.20
2.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$48.76€42.51
-76.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$5.89€5.13
-46.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$1.79€1.56
-42.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$43.66€38.06
-68.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$2.04€1.78
-34.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$24.5K€21.3K
13.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$32.7K€28.5K
2.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$230€200
-46.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$24.55€21.40
-43.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$33.03€28.80
-44.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$61.4€53.5
-1.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
$15.12€13.18
13.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$11.70€10.20
-24.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$953€831
-27.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$13.3K€11.6K
18.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$108€93.8
-44.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$43.34€37.78
-19.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$98.6€86.0
16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$145€126
-42.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$834€727
-25.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$858€748
-48.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$1,866€1,626
9.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$1,570€1,368
-4.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$10.2K€8,914
-66.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$7,701€6,714
-67.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Biarritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$2,315€2,018
-78.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.25
64.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Biarritz: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $834 in Biarritz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Biarritz pays 369% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $64.0 in Biarritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $392 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 Biarritz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Biarritz?
Phuket and Biarritz differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $2,197 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 369% lower in Biarritz. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Biarritz?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $834 in Biarritz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Biarritz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $64.0 in Biarritz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $2,197 in Biarritz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Biarritz. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Biarritz?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Biarritz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Biarritz are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Biarritz?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Biarritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.