ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,766 in Chambery.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $2,902 in Chambery.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $4,038 in Chambery.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 28% less than in Chambery, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Chambery is 32% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$17.23âŽ14.70
-72.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$75.9âŽ64.7
-38.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$12.86âŽ10.97
-32.50%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$3.31âŽ2.82
-10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.94âŽ2.51
-76.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.84âŽ1.57
-78.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$6.21âŽ5.30
-59.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$4.72âŽ4.02
-19.92%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.48âŽ1.27
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$1.76âŽ1.50
2.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$2.55âŽ2.18
-14.12%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$4.26âŽ3.64
-45.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$25.02âŽ21.34
-22.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$15.78âŽ13.46
-76.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$26.03âŽ22.20
-49.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$2.73âŽ2.33
21.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$2.62âŽ2.23
-37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$3.46âŽ2.95
-33.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$4.00âŽ3.41
-50.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.91âŽ2.48
-47.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.74âŽ2.34
-44.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$1.48âŽ1.27
-30.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.84âŽ0.71
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$11.73âŽ10.01
-62.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$8.79âŽ7.50
120.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$3.16âŽ2.70
-43.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$3.09âŽ2.63
-13.27%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$4.54âŽ3.87
-68.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$70.4âŽ60.1
-83.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$5.96âŽ5.08
-48.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$1.83âŽ1.56
-43.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$58.5âŽ49.94
-76.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$2.04âŽ1.74
-36.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$37.6KâŽ32.1K
-25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$37.6KâŽ32.1K
-12.18%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$129âŽ110
-4.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$22.45âŽ19.15
-38.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$36.53âŽ31.16
-48.37%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$34.65âŽ29.56
76.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$11.35âŽ9.68
48.11%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$14.07âŽ12.00
-36.96%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$752âŽ641
-7.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$12.2KâŽ10.4K
31.91%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$109âŽ93.3
-45.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$51.0âŽ43.50
-31.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$116âŽ99.2
-2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$167âŽ142
-49.05%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$696âŽ594
-11.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$524âŽ447
-14.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$1,165âŽ994
78.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$1,177âŽ1,004
27.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$4,157âŽ3,546
-10.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$4,222âŽ3,601
-36.95%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chambery
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.76
41.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chambery: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $696 in Chambery. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $76 in Chambery for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $425 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 Chambery: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chambery cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $2,649 in Chambery 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 Chambery?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $696 in Chambery. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 502% less than in Chambery. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $752 in Chambery. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Chambery?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,766 in Chambery, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Chambery. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Chambery more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chambery, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Chambery?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Chambery 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 39% less than in Chambery. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.