Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Covilha Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Covilha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $1,200 in Covilha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $1,873 in Covilha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $2,547 in Covilha, rent included.

Phuket is about 1% cheaper than Covilha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Covilha are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Covilha 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$8.80 €7.82
-50.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,090
$36.08 €32.05
-10.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿283
$6.88 €6.11
22.38%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.2
$1.32 €1.17
112.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.38
$1.71 €1.52
-49.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.44
$1.13 €1.01
-59.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.8
$1.94 €1.72
33.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$1.47 €1.31
147.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.3
$1.02 €0.91
67.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.56
$1.02 €0.90
42.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.4
$1.31 €1.16
19.08%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.5
$2.69 €2.39
-21.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿656
$7.53 €6.69
159.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$6.81 €6.05
-50.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿374
$11.10 €9.86
0.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿95.1
$1.78 €1.58
58.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.5
$1.24 €1.10
30.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.7
$1.42 €1.26
56.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿72.1
$2.42 €2.15
-11.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.1
$1.33 €1.18
12.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.53
$1.80 €1.60
-26.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.82
$1.46 €1.30
-26.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.06
$0.43 €0.39
18.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$5.77 €5.13
-24.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿630
$3.03 €2.70
519.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.5
$0.98 €0.87
77.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.2
$1.39 €1.23
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.8
$1.96 €1.74
10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿748
$43.42 €38.58
-48.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$4.60 €4.08
-34.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.53
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿125
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿48.03
$2.04 €1.81
-29.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿884.7K
$33.5K €29.8K
-21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿879.9K
$37.8K €33.6K
-30.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,246
$130 €115
-25.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿383
$19.89 €17.67
-42.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿574
$38.63 €34.32
-55.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,773
$41.87 €37.20
26.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿372
$10.04 €8.92
10.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿257
$8.35 €7.42
-8.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$85.8 €76.2
546.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿378.8K
$6,183 €5,493
82.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,130
$77.3 €68.7
-17.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿961
$20.87 €18.54
37.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,248
$105 €93.3
-7.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,975
$165 €147
-46.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.7K
$495 €440
48.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.4K
$391 €347
17.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.6K
$943 €838
122.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.9K
$791 €703
49.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿117.3K
$1,760 €1,564
98.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.7K
$684 €607
264.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Covilha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
$1,028 €913
-51.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.45
61.45%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Covilha: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Phuket versus $495 in Covilha. 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 105% higher in Covilha, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $36.00 in Covilha. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Phuket vs $193 in Covilha – so Covilha 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 Covilha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Covilha cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Covilha is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,785 per month in Phuket and $1,800 in Covilha. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Covilha?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Covilha – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Covilha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $36.00 in Covilha. 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 Covilha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Covilha at $1,200. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Covilha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Covilha 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 safer, Phuket or Covilha?
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.
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, Covilha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities