Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cesena Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cesena

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,637 in Cesena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,464 in Cesena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,291 in Cesena.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Cesena, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Cesena is 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$17.27 €15.13
-73.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$81.1 €71.1
-43.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$11.65 €10.21
-24.12%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.97 €1.73
55.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$2.67 €2.34
-72.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$1.18 €1.03
-66.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$5.95 €5.21
-59.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$4.58 €4.01
-17.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.40 €1.23
61.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.13 €0.99
60.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.08 €1.82
8.17%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.27 €1.99
-0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$14.32 €12.54
36.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$10.86 €9.52
-66.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$17.17 €15.04
-24.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.70 €1.48
90.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.86 €1.63
-12.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$2.42 €2.12
-1.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$3.49 €3.05
-41.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.59 €1.39
-3.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.47 €1.29
2.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.13 €0.99
-13.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.34 €0.30
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$6.95 €6.09
-36.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$6.70 €5.87
173.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.27 €1.12
46.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$1.63 €1.43
64.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$2.30 €2.01
-38.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$37.16 €32.55
-68.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$8.06 €7.06
-61.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$2.08 €1.82
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$34.10 €29.86
-58.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$2.08 €1.82
-37.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$37.0K €32.4K
-24.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$40.6K €35.6K
-18.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$192 €168
-36.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$12.91 €11.30
5.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$30.99 €27.14
-39.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$56.4 €49.39
7.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$14.25 €12.48
19.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$10.52 €9.22
-13.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$555 €486
27.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$6,668 €5,840
137.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$87.1 €76.3
-32.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$35.12 €30.75
0.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$104 €91.4
10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$127 €112
-34.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$673 €590
-7.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$569 €498
-21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$1,269 €1,111
60.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$869 €761
71.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$2,965 €2,597
17.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,646 €2,318
-2.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cesena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,791 €1,569
-72.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.44
20.05%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cesena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $673 in Cesena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cesena pays 258% 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 $81.0 in Cesena. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $278, with Cesena cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cesena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Cesena?
Phuket and Cesena differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $1,637 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 258% lower in Cesena. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Cesena?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $673 in Cesena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $81.0 in Cesena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Cesena?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $1,637 in Cesena – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,637 in Cesena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Cesena. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Cesena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Cesena safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Cesena are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Cesena?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Cesena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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