Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and DerryCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Derry
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,857 in Derry.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,715 in Derry.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,573 in Derry.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 34% less than in Derry, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Derry is 39% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.97âŽ11.96
-66.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$62.1âŽ53.1
-24.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$8.38âŽ7.17
5.49%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.42âŽ3.78
-32.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.12âŽ1.82
-65.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.56âŽ1.33
-76.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.52âŽ4.73
-55.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.59âŽ4.78
-35.42%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.46âŽ1.25
54.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.54âŽ1.32
19.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.15âŽ1.84
4.19%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.55âŽ3.04
-34.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.74âŽ10.91
54.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$10.47âŽ8.96
-65.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$11.97âŽ10.25
9.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.98âŽ2.55
13.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.60âŽ1.37
2.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.82âŽ2.42
-14.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.52âŽ3.02
-42.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.09âŽ0.94
43.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.40âŽ1.20
7.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.09âŽ0.94
-6.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.62âŽ1.38
-69.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$15.84âŽ13.56
-71.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$11.17âŽ9.56
69.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.42âŽ2.07
-26.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.70âŽ2.31
1.85%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Derry
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.44âŽ2.09
-42.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$96.5âŽ82.6
-88.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.85âŽ4.15
-35.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.38âŽ1.18
-27.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$42.54âŽ36.41
-66.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.05âŽ1.75
-34.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$41.9KâŽ35.8K
-35.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$38.6KâŽ33.1K
-14.74%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$219âŽ188
-43.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$22.03âŽ18.86
-38.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$54.4âŽ46.59
-65.97%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$33.69âŽ28.84
82.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$27.25âŽ23.33
-38.20%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.84âŽ9.28
-15.22%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,058âŽ906
-34.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,096âŽ6,930
92.60%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$91.2âŽ78.1
-36.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$38.78âŽ33.19
-9.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$102âŽ86.9
11.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$75.6âŽ64.7
14.33%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Derry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$738âŽ632
-16.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$724âŽ619
-38.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,267âŽ1,084
61.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,068âŽ914
39.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,404âŽ2,058
57.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,782âŽ1,526
48.63%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Derry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,565âŽ2,195
-79.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.18
27.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Derry: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $738 in Derry. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Derry pays 390% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $62.0 in Derry for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $302 per month, with Phuket 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 Derry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derry cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Derry?
On paper, Derry earns 390% 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 Derry?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $738 in Derry. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $1,058 in Derry. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Derry?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Derry. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Derry?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,857 in Derry, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Derry. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Derry more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Derry, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Derry?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Derry 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 51% less than in Derry. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.