Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Deva Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Deva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $917 in Deva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,400 in Deva, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,882 in Deva, rent included.

Phuket costs about 37% more than Deva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Deva are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Deva 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$7.11 RON 32.11
-35.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,072
$22.26 RON 101
46.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿293
$7.84 RON 35.41
13.52%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿92.2
$1.82 RON 8.23
53.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿28.93
$2.19 RON 9.88
-59.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.08
$1.27 RON 5.72
-61.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.5
$1.36 RON 6.13
75.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿122
$2.24 RON 10.11
65.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿58.7
$1.77 RON 8.00
1.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.38
$1.41 RON 6.37
2.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.1
$1.21 RON 5.47
30.58%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$3.35 RON 15.15
-36.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿655
$8.32 RON 37.58
139.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿113
$5.28 RON 23.87
-35.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿372
$8.51 RON 38.43
33.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿96.9
$1.52 RON 6.85
94.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.6
$1.44 RON 6.51
19.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿76.4
$1.62 RON 7.30
43.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$2.30 RON 10.40
-9.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.33
$0.80 RON 3.61
83.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$1.01 RON 4.56
34.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.12
$0.93 RON 4.19
18.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.89
$0.91 RON 4.13
-37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$5.58 RON 25.20
-23.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿605
$7.92 RON 35.78
132.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿61.5
$1.08 RON 4.87
73.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.0
$1.79 RON 8.07
63.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Deva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿72.9
$0.52 RON 2.36
326.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿753
$34.17 RON 154
-32.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$0.78 RON 3.53
288.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.31
$0.65 RON 2.92
64.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿129
$8.70 RON 39.32
-54.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.04
$1.60 RON 7.24
-6.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿891.7K
$29.9K RON 135.3K
-9.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.3K
$26.1K RON 117.7K
5.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,379
$138 RON 625
-25.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿361
$8.99 RON 40.64
22.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿576
$10.14 RON 45.83
72.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,760
$41.25 RON 186
29.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿368
$55.4 RON 250
-79.77%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿246
$6.46 RON 29.19
15.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.3K
$616 RON 2,783
-9.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿389.6K
$10.0K RON 45.3K
18.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,106
$74.2 RON 335
-13.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿956
$46.53 RON 210
-37.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,154
$87.3 RON 394
9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,970
$77.3 RON 349
16.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Deva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.0K
$248 RON 1,120
194.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.4K
$191 RON 862
161.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿68.7K
$417 RON 1,884
401.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿39.7K
$365 RON 1,651
230.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿118.2K
$4,941 RON 22.3K
-27.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿82.6K
$3,528 RON 15.9K
-28.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Deva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.5K
$1,198 RON 5,412
-57.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.73
-17.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Deva: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $248 in Deva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 138% higher in Deva, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $22.00 in Deva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $205 – making Deva 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 Deva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Deva compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,253 in Phuket, $917 in Deva – roughly 37% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Deva?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,375 in Deva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Deva?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Deva, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $22.00 in Deva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Deva, where all-in costs run around $917, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Deva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Deva?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $917 in Deva to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Deva safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Deva?
If budget matters most, go with Deva. 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.

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