Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Courtenay

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,184 in Courtenay, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Courtenay, Canada
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Courtenay
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,184
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Courtenay

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Courtenay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,184 in Courtenay, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Courtenay $2,184

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,080 in Courtenay, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Courtenay $3,080

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $3,975 in Courtenay, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Courtenay $3,975

Phuket is about 41% cheaper than Courtenay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Courtenay is 60% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$14.38 CA$20.09
-68.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$57.2 CA$79.9
-43.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.76 CA$13.64
-9.73%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$3.68 CA$5.14
-23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$2.04 CA$2.85
-57.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$1.55 CA$2.17
-68.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$5.79 CA$8.09
-55.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$5.74 CA$8.02
-35.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$2.41 CA$3.37
-31.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$2.05 CA$2.87
-28.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.08 CA$2.91
-27.88%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.20 CA$4.47
-34.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$10.17 CA$14.20
87.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.20 CA$12.85
-64.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$19.79 CA$27.64
-44.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$3.30 CA$4.61
-11.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.31 CA$1.83
29.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.35 CA$3.28
-4.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$3.07 CA$4.29
-32.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.65 CA$3.71
-43.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$2.15 CA$3.00
-35.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$2.07 CA$2.89
-48.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$1.64 CA$2.29
-68.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$14.20 CA$19.84
-70.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$10.89 CA$15.22
72.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.59 CA$3.62
-29.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.44 CA$3.40
16.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$1.94 CA$2.71
-25.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$42.49 CA$59.4
33.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$2.75 CA$3.84
9.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$1.40 CA$1.96
-27.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$17.82 CA$24.89
-79.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$1.28 CA$1.78
14.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$20.8K CA$29.1K
28.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$18.2K CA$25.5K
46.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$139 CA$194
-30.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$36.71 CA$51.3
-69.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$65.3 CA$91.3
-74.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$42.38 CA$59.2
58.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$38.49 CA$53.8
-72.12%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$10.78 CA$15.06
-30.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$648 CA$906
-26.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$12.3K CA$17.2K
-8.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$56.9 CA$79.5
9.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$45.43 CA$63.5
-37.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$78.5 CA$110
20.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$59.8 CA$83.5
43.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,219 CA$1,703
-41.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,137 CA$1,588
-56.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$2,043 CA$2,854
-5.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,629 CA$2,277
-12.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$5,318 CA$7,429
-21.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Courtenay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$3,239 CA$4,525
-84.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.87
14.37%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Courtenay: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Courtenay
$1.1K 132% $646
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Courtenay
$331 24.2% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Courtenay
$241 93.6% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Courtenay
$108 11.2% $14
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Courtenay
$243 99.9% $122
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Courtenay
$64 22.2% $18
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Courtenay
$60 15% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $1,219 in Courtenay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Courtenay are about 6.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $57 in Courtenay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $331 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇦 Courtenay
🕒 Local time
11:46 11:46 AM
21:46 9:46 PM
14 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
25,599
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Courtenay 12,360 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Courtenay

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Courtenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Courtenay?
Yes – Courtenay is pricier by about 71%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,276 in Courtenay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,219 in Courtenay.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Courtenay?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Courtenay, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Courtenay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $57 in Courtenay. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Courtenay?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Courtenay at $2,184. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Courtenay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Courtenay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Courtenay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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