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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $1,137 in Chitila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,802 in Chitila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $2,468 in Chitila, rent included.

Phuket costs about 11% more than Chitila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Chitila are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Chitila 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$13.79 RON 62.7
-67.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$67.9 RON 309
-32.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$8.24 RON 37.47
6.31%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$3.35 RON 15.22
-11.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$1.89 RON 8.61
-63.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$1.30 RON 5.92
-70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$2.26 RON 10.28
11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$3.27 RON 14.89
14.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$1.77 RON 8.03
21.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$1.25 RON 5.69
45.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.92 RON 8.73
13.54%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$3.31 RON 15.05
-32.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$9.60 RON 43.63
108.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$6.60 RON 29.98
-45.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$11.80 RON 53.7
14.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$1.34 RON 6.10
141.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$1.78 RON 8.09
-7.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$1.77 RON 8.03
31.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$2.51 RON 11.39
-17.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.04 RON 4.72
49.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$1.00 RON 4.56
46.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$0.98 RON 4.46
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.87 RON 3.96
-44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$6.53 RON 29.67
-33.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$6.55 RON 29.79
183.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$1.10 RON 5.00
69.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$1.87 RON 8.48
41.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$0.66 RON 2.99
115.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
$19.61 RON 89.2
-41.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$0.66 RON 2.99
380.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$0.65 RON 2.96
58.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$6.80 RON 30.90
104.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.72 RON 7.82
-22.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$27.9K RON 126.8K
-0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$28.1K RON 127.8K
18.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$184 RON 837
-33.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$8.76 RON 39.81
57.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$11.38 RON 51.8
61.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$41.60 RON 189
45.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$19.25 RON 87.5
-10.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$8.02 RON 36.44
10.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$544 RON 2,471
26.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$8,226 RON 37.4K
91.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$80.9 RON 368
-26.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$66.4 RON 302
-47.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$91.4 RON 415
26.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$92.6 RON 421
-9.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$393 RON 1,786
58.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$293 RON 1,330
52.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$595 RON 2,706
241.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$435 RON 1,980
243.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$1,968 RON 8,947
75.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$1,391 RON 6,322
82.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chitila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$884 RON 4,021
-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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chitila: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $393 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $68.0 in Chitila. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $227 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 in Chitila compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $1,137 in Chitila – roughly 11% 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,706 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 $46.00 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $1,137 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 $1,137, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $1,137 in Chitila to $1,264 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.

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