Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Crooked Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Crooked Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,171 in Crooked Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $3,571 in Crooked Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $4,971 in Crooked Island.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 43% less than in Crooked Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Crooked Island is 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$49.01 BSD 49.01

-91.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$13.01 BSD 13.01

-31.36%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.90 BSD 3.90

-25.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.38

$3.91 BSD 3.91

-77.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.95 BSD 1.95

-75.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$5.09 BSD 5.09

-53.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$5.06 BSD 5.06

-26.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$7.86 BSD 7.86

-76.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$6.10 BSD 6.10

-75.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$3.45 BSD 3.45

-55.07%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$11.43 BSD 11.43

-81.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$13.13 BSD 13.13

49.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$8.07 BSD 8.07

41.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$14.08 BSD 14.08

-78.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.28 BSD 1.28

72.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$12.17 BSD 12.17

-82.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.21 BSD 2.21

-31.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$2.81 BSD 2.81

-52.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.99 BSD 0.99

14.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.94 BSD 1.94

-71.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$30.14 BSD 30.14

-36.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$4.93 BSD 4.93

-63.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$4.91 BSD 4.91

-43.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$2.07 BSD 2.07

-50.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

$221 BSD 221

-53.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.33 ฿378

$60.2 BSD 60.2

-81.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$68.9 BSD 68.9

-74.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$81.4 BSD 81.4

-22.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$49.63 BSD 49.63

-40.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$249 BSD 249

-60.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$99.7 BSD 99.7

-11.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$560 BSD 560

31.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$540 BSD 540

-10.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$1,611 BSD 1,611

30.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$1,601 BSD 1,601

-23.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$1,077 BSD 1,077

-54.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Crooked Island: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $560 in Crooked Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Crooked Island pays 118% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Crooked Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Crooked Island differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $2,171 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 118% lower in Crooked Island. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $560 in Crooked Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Crooked Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,171 in Crooked Island – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,171 in Crooked Island, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Crooked Island. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Crooked Island are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Crooked Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.