Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Calarasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Calarasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $988 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,476 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,965 in Calarasi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 27% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$9.83 RON 45.12

-53.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$27.88 RON 128

65.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$7.98 RON 36.61

10.78%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.69 RON 12.35

13.75%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.53 RON 7.01

-52.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$1.79 RON 8.24

-77.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.28 RON 10.46

6.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.38 RON 15.53

11.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.36 RON 6.24

66.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.10 RON 5.04

64.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.69 RON 7.75

33.14%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$3.25 RON 14.93

-30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$8.56 RON 39.32

127.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$6.94 RON 31.84

-47.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$9.17 RON 42.08

42.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.18 RON 5.40

173.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.46 RON 6.71

10.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.33 RON 6.12

78.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.98 RON 9.11

2.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.80 RON 3.68

91.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.95 RON 4.37

57.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.71 RON 3.26

38.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.80 RON 3.69

-35.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$5.69 RON 26.11

-21.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$4.32 RON 19.84

324.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.89 RON 4.10

108.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.37 RON 6.28

95.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.44 RON 2.04

220.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$13.57 RON 62.3

-13.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.71 RON 3.26

338.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.64 RON 2.95

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$5.81 RON 26.66

142.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.60 RON 7.33

-18.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$24.7K RON 113.4K

12.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$26.9K RON 123.4K

23.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,118

$148 RON 681

-17.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

$8.24 RON 37.80

64.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$7.53 RON 34.58

148.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$69.8 RON 321

-13.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$18.92 RON 86.8

-10.25%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$6.01 RON 27.60

50.92%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

$434 RON 1,991

62.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$6,908 RON 31.7K

128.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$82.5 RON 379

-29.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$42.72 RON 196

-17.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$75.5 RON 346

53.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$99.8 RON 458

-16.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$383 RON 1,756

63.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$231 RON 1,059

92.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$579 RON 2,659

252.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$364 RON 1,672

309.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,240 RON 5,693

180.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$984 RON 4,519

161.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$741 RON 3,400

-32.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.62

-19.49%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $383 in Calarasi. 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 48% higher in Calarasi, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $195 – making Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $988 in Calarasi – roughly 27% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,481 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $434 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Calarasi to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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.