Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castel Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,417 in Castel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $3,885 in Castel, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $5,352 in Castel, rent included.

Phuket is about 49% cheaper than Castel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Castel is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$40.92 GGP 30.36

-89.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$80.4 GGP 59.7

-59.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$5.20 GGP 3.86

-44.23%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$3.34 GGP 2.48

-73.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$4.10 GGP 3.05

-88.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$4.46 GGP 3.31

-47.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$6.91 GGP 5.13

-46.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.07 GGP 1.54

-9.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$2.21 GGP 1.64

-32.58%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

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

$11.33 ฿378

$26.92 GGP 19.97

-57.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$67.0 GGP 49.73

-74.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$2,058 GGP 1,527

-64.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$1,906 GGP 1,414

-74.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$4,092 GGP 3,036

-48.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$3,780 GGP 2,805

-67.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Castel: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $2,058 in Castel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $80.0 in Castel. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Castel – so Castel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Castel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Castel is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,626 in Castel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1219% cheaper in Castel – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $80.0 in Castel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Castel at $2,417. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.