Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Derna Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Derna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $170 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $337 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $504 in Derna, rent included.

Phuket costs about 646% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Derna 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$4.72 LYD 30.03

-0.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$9.35 LYD 59.5

385.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$3.71 LYD 23.56

127.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 LYD 4.79

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$0.57 LYD 3.63

414.04%

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.39 LYD 2.47

76.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$0.70 LYD 4.44

218.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$0.76 LYD 4.85

190.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$0.96 LYD 6.11

67.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$0.93 LYD 5.92

224.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,978

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$16.38 LYD 104

11.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$37.23 LYD 237

59.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$46.51 LYD 296

-25.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$45.65 LYD 290

151.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$45.78 LYD 291

81.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

$183 LYD 1,161

1047.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$109 LYD 695

1281.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

$200 LYD 1,273

1772.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

$79.3 LYD 504

3197.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$173 LYD 1,100

193.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Derna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 194% higher in Phuket, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $9.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $16.00 – making Derna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 646% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $255 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $170 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1754% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. 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.