Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and the Canaries

For one person, living is cheaper in the Canaries: $185 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Canaries

🇱🇨 Saint Lucia

$185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in the Canaries

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in the Canaries actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $185 in the Canaries, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Canaries $185

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $278 in the Canaries, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Canaries $278

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $370 in the Canaries, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Canaries $370

Phuket costs about 590% more than the Canaries.

Both Phuket and Canaries are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Canaries 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

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

$0.87 ฿29.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.52

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.76

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

$26.8K ฿903.4K

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

$26.7K ฿900.5K

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

$96.4 ฿3,251

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

$11.26 ฿380

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

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

$476 ฿16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,181

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,895

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$183 EC$494

291.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$185 EC$500

165.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$297 EC$803

547.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$370 EC$1,000

286.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$186 EC$502

2144.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

$259 EC$699

1076.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for the Canaries: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Canaries

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Canaries

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Canaries

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Canaries

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Canaries

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Canaries

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Canaries

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $183 in the Canaries. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇱🇨 Canaries

🕒 Local time

06:09 6:09 AM

19:09 7:09 PM

11 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

1,862

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

East Caribbean Dollar XCD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 XCD = 0.37 USD

1 XCD = 0.332 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XCD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.01 XCD (1 XCD = 0.332 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Canaries 16,700 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Canaries

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Canaries: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 590% more than the Canaries, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $278 in the Canaries. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in the Canaries, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $183 there versus $716 in Phuket.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in the Canaries, where all-in costs run around $185, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Canaries 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 $185 in the Canaries to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.