Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Edessa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Edessa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,522 in Edessa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,230 in Edessa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,939 in Edessa.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 19% less than in Edessa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Edessa is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$17.25 €15.03
-74.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$53.8 €46.86
-40.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$10.44 €9.10
-14.46%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$3.39 €2.95
-14.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.27
$1.83 €1.59
-51.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.00
$0.55 €0.48
-12.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$4.11 €3.58
-42.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$4.55 €3.96
-18.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.0
$1.62 €1.41
15.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.75
$1.30 €1.13
13.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$2.08 €1.81
-25.48%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$4.45 €3.88
-52.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿651
$14.42 €12.56
35.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$8.52 €7.43
-59.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$13.10 €11.41
-13.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.2
$2.27 €1.98
31.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.0
$2.03 €1.77
-17.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.84 €1.60
20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$2.29 €2.00
-5.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.24 €1.08
22.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.49
$1.32 €1.15
1.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.53
$0.95 €0.83
18.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.17
$0.77 €0.67
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$5.63 €4.90
-24.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$7.62 €6.63
150.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.69 €1.47
5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.5
$2.66 €2.32
4.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.1
$1.42 €1.24
57.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
$48.77 €42.49
-53.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$4.37 €3.80
-30.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.02
$1.09 €0.95
-6.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$17.02 €14.83
-77.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.57
$2.24 €1.95
-33.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿883.8K
$30.0K €26.2K
-11.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿898.7K
$24.4K €21.3K
10.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,407
$265 €231
-61.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$26.26 €22.88
-56.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$36.11 €31.46
-51.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,732
$49.64 €43.25
4.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
$23.92 €20.84
-53.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$9.42 €8.20
-18.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$440 €384
27.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.6K
$8,222 €7,163
39.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,096
$85.2 €74.2
-26.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$39.63 €34.53
-25.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,259
$90.7 €79.0
8.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,943
$120 €104
-26.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
$358 €312
106.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
$362 €316
33.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.0K
$624 €544
237.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$477 €416
156.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
$1,371 €1,194
163.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.5K
$2,300 €2,004
13.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Edessa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$802 €699
-38.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.4
26.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Edessa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $358 in Edessa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Edessa pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Edessa. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $271, with Edessa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Edessa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Edessa?
Phuket and Edessa differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,522 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Edessa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Edessa?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $358 in Edessa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Edessa?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 114% less than in Edessa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Edessa?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $440 in Edessa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,522 in Edessa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Edessa. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Edessa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Edessa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Edessa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Edessa?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Edessa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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