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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $174 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $339 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $504 in Derna, rent included.

Phuket costs about 621% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Derna 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$3.84 LYD 24.29

18.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

$8.07 LYD 51.1

304.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$3.12 LYD 19.76

185.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 LYD 3.07

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 LYD 3.92

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$0.45 LYD 2.86

522.22%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$0.33 LYD 2.06

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$0.75 LYD 4.75

138.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$2.43 LYD 15.38

-34.98%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$0.97 LYD 6.16

119.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$3.06 LYD 19.35

12.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$0.75 LYD 4.76

129.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$0.97 LYD 6.15

139.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$0.81 LYD 5.13

274.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

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

$10.99 ฿361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$14.13 LYD 89.5

23.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

$31.54 LYD 200

103.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$39.11 LYD 248

-25.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

$38.88 LYD 246

146.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$38.95 LYD 247

131.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$159 LYD 1,009

1212.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

$94.6 LYD 599

1178.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$198 LYD 1,255

1714.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$79.8 LYD 505

3047.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$174 LYD 1,103

188.84%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Derna: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 189% 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $8.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $45.00 – 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 621% 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 $1,880 per month in Phuket and $261 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,253 in Phuket and $174 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 510% 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 $174, than in Phuket at $1,253. 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 $174 versus $1,253 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.