Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and CesisCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cesis
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,391 in Cesis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,126 in Cesis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,861 in Cesis.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 10% less than in Cesis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Cesis is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$17.14€15.01
-73.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$68.9€60.4
-32.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$9.37€8.21
-5.66%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.62€3.17
-15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.86€1.63
-60.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.35€1.19
-70.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$5.80€5.08
-58.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$5.85€5.13
-35.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.39€1.21
62.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.53€1.34
18.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.76€2.42
-18.48%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.79€2.45
-19.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$11.99€10.50
62.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$8.01€7.02
-54.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$12.02€10.53
8.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.67€1.46
93.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$0.92€0.81
76.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$2.56€2.24
-7.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.27€1.98
-10.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.95€0.83
61.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.02€0.90
47.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.77€1.55
-44.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.84€0.74
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$4.24€3.71
4.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.55€6.62
142.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.12€0.98
66.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.18€1.04
127.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.96€0.84
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$36.35€31.84
-67.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.94€2.58
5.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.85€0.74
22.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$13.63€11.94
3.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.80€1.57
-27.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$30.5K€26.7K
-8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$31.4K€27.5K
5.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$322€282
-61.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$19.91€17.44
-31.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$11.54€10.11
62.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$50.6€44.35
19.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$11.47€10.05
-20.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$547€479
29.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$15.7K€13.8K
0.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$90.0€78.9
-34.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$45.95€40.25
-23.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$94.9€83.1
21.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$135€119
-38.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$363€318
72.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$259€227
71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$737€646
176.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$453€397
229.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cesis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,863€1,631
-73.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.4
122.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Cesis: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $363 in Cesis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cesis pays 273% 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 $69.0 in Cesis. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $244, with Cesis 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 Cesis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cesis cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Cesis?
On paper, salaries run 273% lower in Cesis. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Cesis?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $363 in Cesis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Cesis?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $1,391 in Cesis – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 211% less than in Cesis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Cesis?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,391 in Cesis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Cesis. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Cesis more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cesis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Cesis?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Cesis 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 – expenses run 11% less than in Cesis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.