😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $935 in Curepipe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,486 in Curepipe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,038 in Curepipe.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 31% more expensive than Curepipe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Curepipe30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$3.22MUR 151
40.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$44.81MUR 2,110
4.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$4.58MUR 216
85.37%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$2.68MUR 126
14.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$0.96MUR 45.31
-29.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.61MUR 28.54
-40.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$1.73MUR 81.4
40.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$2.83MUR 133
28.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.31MUR 61.7
67.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.67MUR 31.49
170.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.31MUR 61.8
70.23%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.35MUR 111
-4.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$7.76MUR 365
152.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$6.24MUR 294
-40.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$8.87MUR 418
51.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$1.98MUR 93.2
69.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.81MUR 85.4
-10.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.51MUR 71.1
59.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$2.74MUR 129
-27.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$0.91MUR 42.73
68.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$1.01MUR 47.77
43.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$0.79MUR 37.43
27.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.57MUR 26.94
-15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$5.97MUR 281
-28.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$7.29MUR 343
162.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.68MUR 79.3
9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$2.11MUR 99.4
29.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$0.85MUR 39.95
67.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
$36.97MUR 1,740
-68.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$3.21MUR 151
-6.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$2.61MUR 123
-59.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$4.43MUR 209
213.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.40MUR 66.1
-7.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$28.3KMUR 1.3M
-0.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$28.3KMUR 1.3M
18.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$50.0MUR 2,356
143.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$18.40MUR 866
-24.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$31.37MUR 1,477
-39.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$17.28MUR 813
254.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$2.23MUR 105
655.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$6.20MUR 292
43.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$156MUR 7,333
343.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$3,173MUR 149.4K
409.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$41.74MUR 1,965
38.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$33.97MUR 1,599
4.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$73.9MUR 3,477
53.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$74.0MUR 3,486
12.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$522MUR 24.6K
16.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$361MUR 17.0K
24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$1,047MUR 49.3K
93.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$679MUR 32.0K
119.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$735MUR 34.6K
387.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$644MUR 30.3K
301.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Curepipe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
$904MUR 42.6K
-44.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.5
-3.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Curepipe: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $522 in Curepipe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curepipe pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Curepipe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $198 per month, with Curepipe cheaper across the board.
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 Curepipe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Curepipe cheaper than Phuket?
Curepipe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Curepipe?
On paper, Curepipe earns 79% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Curepipe?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $522 in Curepipe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Curepipe runs roughly 215% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $156 in Curepipe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Curepipe?
At $935 in Curepipe versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Curepipe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Curepipe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Curepipe more family-friendly?
For families, Curepipe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Curepipe?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Curepipe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Curepipe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.