Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castel

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,391 in Castel, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Castel outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Castel, Guernsey
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Castel
🇬🇬 Guernsey
$2,391
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Castel

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 Castel actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,391 in Castel, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Castel $2,391

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,843 in Castel, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Castel $3,843

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $5,295 in Castel, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Castel $5,295

Phuket is about 47% cheaper than Castel, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Castel is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$39.87 GGP 29.78
-88.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$80.0 GGP 59.8
-59.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$5.08 GGP 3.80
-44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$3.36 GGP 2.51
-74.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$3.93 GGP 2.93
-87.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$4.28 GGP 3.19
-40.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.48 GGP 4.84
-43.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$2.06 GGP 1.54
-19.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
-
-
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 ฿70.1
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
-
-
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 ฿95.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Castel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$2.22 GGP 1.66
-33.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$26.64 GGP 19.90
-57.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$65.7 GGP 49.06
-74.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,971 GGP 1,472
-63.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,835 GGP 1,371
-73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$4,043 GGP 3,020
-52.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$3,782 GGP 2,825
-62.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Castel: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Castel
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Castel
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Castel
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Castel
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Castel
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Castel
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Castel
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $1,971 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 in Phuket versus $80 in Castel. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $21 in Castel – so Castel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇬 Castel
🕒 Local time
17:39 5:39 PM
10:39 10:39 AM
7 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
8,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GGP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Guernsey Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 GGP (1 GGP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.834 GGP (1 GGP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Castel 10,120 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Castel

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 Castel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Castel?
Yes – Castel is pricier by about 87%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,587 in Castel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,971 in Castel.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Castel?
Interestingly, groceries are about 92% cheaper in Castel – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Castel?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $80 in Castel. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Castel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Castel at $2,391. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Castel?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,278 in Phuket to $2,391 in Castel. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Castel?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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