Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and CalgaryCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Calgary
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,432 in Calgary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $3,624 in Calgary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $4,816 in Calgary.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 48% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Calgary is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53฿153
$18.52CA$26.12
-75.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36฿1,563
$70.6CA$99.6
-34.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65฿292
$11.03CA$15.55
-21.58%
Cappuccino
$3.09฿104
$3.88CA$5.48
-20.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.86
$1.97CA$2.79
-65.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.42
$1.66CA$2.34
-77.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿81.5
$5.19CA$7.32
-53.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81฿128
$6.58CA$9.28
-42.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿73.4
$2.21CA$3.11
-1.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.3
$2.67CA$3.77
-31.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.4
$3.35CA$4.72
-34.93%
Eggs
$2.24฿75.4
$3.39CA$4.78
-33.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.93฿672
$14.59CA$20.58
36.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64฿123
$12.95CA$18.27
-71.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿457
$15.84CA$22.34
-14.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29฿111
$4.30CA$6.07
-23.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿56.8
$1.30CA$1.84
30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.7
$3.88CA$5.47
-39.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.3
$4.22CA$5.96
-51.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60฿53.9
$2.55CA$3.60
-37.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49฿50.4
$2.72CA$3.84
-45.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿34.13
$2.74CA$3.87
-63.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.07
$1.93CA$2.73
-75.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿150
$15.00CA$21.15
-70.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63฿628
$14.67CA$20.69
26.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿60.2
$2.89CA$4.07
-38.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80฿94.3
$4.03CA$5.68
-30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.84
$2.79CA$3.94
-49.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.33฿382
$85.7CA$121
-86.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09฿104
$3.59CA$5.06
-13.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.15
$1.35CA$1.91
-22.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63฿459
$28.84CA$40.68
-52.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.18
$1.08CA$1.53
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K฿919.6K
$25.4KCA$35.8K
7.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$21.7KCA$30.6K
53.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,152
$216CA$304
-42.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81฿465
$41.66CA$58.8
-66.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿624
$58.7CA$82.8
-68.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4฿2,035
$53.6CA$75.6
12.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80฿566
$52.1CA$73.5
-67.75%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿300
$12.72CA$17.95
-30.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687฿23.1K
$885CA$1,248
-22.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿524.2K
$15.8KCA$22.3K
-1.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6฿1,943
$57.9CA$81.7
-0.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66฿1,168
$47.31CA$66.7
-26.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,874
$88.3CA$124
30.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9฿2,862
$107CA$151
-20.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618฿20.8K
$1,368CA$1,929
-54.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443฿14.9K
$1,181CA$1,666
-62.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,047฿69.0K
$2,364CA$3,335
-13.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506฿50.8K
$1,872CA$2,641
-19.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,568฿120.3K
$3,737CA$5,270
-4.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,511฿84.6K
$3,424CA$4,829
-26.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.9K
$2,999CA$4,229
-83.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.71
-6.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Last update for Calgary: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $1,368 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Calgary pays 496% 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 $71.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $397 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 Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Calgary?
On paper, salaries run 496% lower in Calgary. 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 Calgary?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $1,368 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Calgary?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Calgary?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $2,432 in Calgary – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Calgary?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,432 in Calgary, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Calgary more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Calgary, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Calgary?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Calgary 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 93% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.