Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chitila Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chitila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,164 in Chitila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,808 in Chitila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,453 in Chitila, rent included.

Phuket costs about 6% more than Chitila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Chitila are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Chitila 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$13.76 RON 60.0
-66.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$68.0 RON 296
-31.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$7.93 RON 34.56
11.48%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$3.36 RON 14.64
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.98 RON 8.62
-62.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$1.32 RON 5.75
-71.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.32 RON 10.14
5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$3.25 RON 14.18
11.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.70 RON 7.43
32.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.24 RON 5.39
48.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.83 RON 7.98
22.40%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$3.21 RON 13.98
-27.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$9.44 RON 41.17
108.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$6.76 RON 29.45
-46.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$11.50 RON 50.1
13.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.34 RON 5.84
152.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.77 RON 7.71
-7.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.71 RON 7.44
40.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$2.53 RON 11.04
-19.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.00 RON 4.36
56.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.98 RON 4.26
53.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.94 RON 4.08
8.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.91 RON 3.97
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$6.59 RON 28.72
-32.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$7.02 RON 30.61
168.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.13 RON 4.94
57.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$1.86 RON 8.10
47.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.67 RON 2.90
108.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$19.90 RON 86.8
-42.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$0.68 RON 2.96
358.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.61 RON 2.67
63.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$6.87 RON 29.96
105.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.73 RON 7.53
-21.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$27.9K RON 121.6K
-2.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.4K RON 119.6K
20.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$179 RON 780
-30.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$9.08 RON 39.57
49.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$11.46 RON 49.95
61.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$41.14 RON 179
49.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$18.96 RON 82.7
-11.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$8.23 RON 35.87
11.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$552 RON 2,408
26.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$8,261 RON 36.0K
88.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$82.3 RON 359
-29.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$65.1 RON 284
-45.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$90.7 RON 395
24.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$91.7 RON 400
-5.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$394 RON 1,718
56.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$286 RON 1,249
55.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$576 RON 2,511
255.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$439 RON 1,915
239.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$1,788 RON 7,797
111.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$1,358 RON 5,921
95.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$938 RON 4,091
-44.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.78
-21.39%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chitila: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $394 in Chitila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 79% higher in Chitila, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $68.0 in Chitila. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $226 in Chitila – so Chitila wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chitila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Chitila compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,164 in Chitila – roughly 6% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Chitila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,745 in Chitila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Chitila?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chitila, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $68.0 in Chitila. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Chitila?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $1,164 in Chitila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chitila, where all-in costs run around $1,164, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Chitila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Chitila?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,164 in Chitila to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Chitila safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Chitila?
If budget matters most, go with Chitila. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities