Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and ChietiCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chieti
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,788 in Chieti, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,711 in Chieti, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,635 in Chieti, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 31% cheaper than Chieti, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Chieti is 34% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$23.53âŽ20.14
-80.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$80.4âŽ68.8
-41.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.44âŽ8.93
-15.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.54âŽ1.32
94.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.95âŽ2.52
-74.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.17âŽ1.00
-68.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.14âŽ4.40
-52.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.10âŽ4.37
-29.22%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.58âŽ1.35
43.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.26âŽ1.94
-18.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.78âŽ2.38
-19.42%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.07âŽ3.49
-43.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$15.71âŽ13.45
25.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$12.28âŽ10.52
-70.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$19.00âŽ16.26
-31.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.70âŽ1.46
99.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.09âŽ1.79
-21.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.55âŽ2.18
-5.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.11âŽ2.66
-34.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.78âŽ1.52
-12.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.77âŽ1.51
-15.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.45âŽ1.24
-29.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.88âŽ0.76
-44.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$7.02âŽ6.01
-36.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.50âŽ6.42
151.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.44âŽ1.23
23.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.99âŽ1.70
38.19%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.78âŽ1.52
-21.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$42.90âŽ36.72
-73.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.91âŽ5.06
-47.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.54âŽ1.32
-35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$34.17âŽ29.25
-58.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.21âŽ1.89
-38.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$32.5KâŽ27.8K
-16.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.7KâŽ28.0K
0.80%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$238âŽ204
-47.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$13.37âŽ11.44
1.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$36.94âŽ31.62
-49.86%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$54.8âŽ46.87
12.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$23.06âŽ19.74
-26.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.28âŽ8.80
-10.60%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$561âŽ481
24.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,988âŽ6,838
95.20%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$87.6âŽ75.0
-34.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.44âŽ32.05
-5.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$93.6âŽ80.1
20.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$129âŽ111
-33.18%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$766âŽ656
-19.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$588âŽ504
-24.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,220âŽ1,044
67.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$912âŽ781
63.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,029âŽ2,593
24.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,393âŽ2,049
10.68%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chieti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,274âŽ1,091
-58.88%
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 Chieti: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $766 in Chieti. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 143% higher in Chieti, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $80.0 in Chieti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $330 â making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Chieti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chieti cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Chieti is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,682 in Chieti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Chieti?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Chieti, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Chieti?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $80.0 in Chieti. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Chieti?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Chieti at $1,788. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chieti it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Chieti more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Chieti?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chieti makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.