ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,618 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,512 in Castrocaro Terme.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Castrocaro Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Castrocaro Terme is 29% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.53âŽ15.01
-73.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$75.7âŽ64.8
-38.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.42âŽ9.78
-22.59%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.00âŽ1.71
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.94âŽ2.52
-74.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.36âŽ1.16
-72.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.95âŽ5.09
-58.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.13âŽ4.39
-29.63%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.62âŽ1.39
39.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.24âŽ1.92
-17.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.69âŽ2.30
-16.73%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.94âŽ3.37
-41.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$15.60âŽ13.36
26.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$12.34âŽ10.56
-70.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$19.32âŽ16.54
-32.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.37âŽ2.03
43.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.05âŽ1.76
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.56âŽ2.20
-5.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.17âŽ2.71
-35.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.85âŽ1.58
-15.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.79âŽ1.53
-16.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.51âŽ1.30
-32.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.50âŽ0.42
-2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.84âŽ5.85
-34.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.99âŽ6.84
136.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.65âŽ1.41
7.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.52âŽ2.16
9.13%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.69âŽ1.45
-17.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$43.07âŽ36.87
-73.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.86âŽ5.02
-46.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.59âŽ1.36
-37.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$34.57âŽ29.59
-59.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.01âŽ1.72
-32.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$33.0KâŽ28.2K
-17.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$33.3KâŽ28.5K
-1.27%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$216âŽ185
-42.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$12.95âŽ11.09
4.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.33âŽ25.97
-38.94%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$55.7âŽ47.66
10.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$22.77âŽ19.49
-26.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.47âŽ8.96
-12.23%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$562âŽ481
24.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,948âŽ6,804
96.18%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$87.8âŽ75.2
-34.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.87âŽ32.42
-6.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$91.1âŽ78.0
24.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$131âŽ112
-33.90%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$750âŽ642
-17.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$589âŽ504
-24.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,209âŽ1,035
69.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$941âŽ805
58.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,067âŽ2,625
23.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,128âŽ1,821
24.49%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.45
19.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Castrocaro Terme: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $750 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $76.0 in Castrocaro Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $332 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 Castrocaro Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castrocaro Terme cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $2,586 in Castrocaro Terme to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Castrocaro Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $750 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Castrocaro Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Castrocaro Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Castrocaro Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $76.0 in Castrocaro Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Castrocaro Terme?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,724 in Castrocaro Terme, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Castrocaro Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Castrocaro Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Castrocaro Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Castrocaro Terme?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Castrocaro Terme 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 â expenses run 40% less than in Castrocaro Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.