Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Faiyum

For one person, living is cheaper in El Faiyum: $434 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
El Faiyum
🇪🇬 Egypt
$434
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in El Faiyum

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in El Faiyum actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $434 in El Faiyum.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • El Faiyum $434

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $693 in El Faiyum.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • El Faiyum $693

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $952 in El Faiyum.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • El Faiyum $952

Living in Phuket is roughly 179% more expensive than in El Faiyum, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, El Faiyum 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$2.29 E£122
92.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$12.74 E£680
153.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$3.30 E£176
165.45%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$1.19 E£63.3
137.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$0.29 E£15.59
210.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.10 E£5.10
370.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$0.89 E£47.70
186.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.25 E£120
70.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$0.74 E£39.61
133.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$0.67 E£35.72
119.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.62 E£32.99
143.55%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.16 E£62.1
87.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$3.03 E£162
550.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$4.23 E£226
-21.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$6.74 E£360
65.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$1.46 E£78.1
95.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$0.61 E£32.60
178.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$0.54 E£28.93
305.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$0.32 E£16.87
540.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.26 E£14.00
457.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$0.29 E£15.74
375.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.25 E£13.22
328.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.23 E£12.18
121.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$1.73 E£92.4
146.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$5.54 E£296
235.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$1.21 E£64.6
47.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$1.96 E£105
45.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.05 E£2.84
4420.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$5.41 E£289
308.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$0.39 E£20.71
671.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.29 E£15.69
265.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$1.19 E£63.3
224.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$0.41 E£21.65
253.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$33.3K E£1.8M
-20.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$25.2K E£1.3M
6.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$13.75 E£734
600.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$6.55 E£350
68.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$13.01 E£695
31.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$27.39 E£1,462
90.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$2.17 E£116
259.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$23.56 E£1,258
2259.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$821 E£43.8K
1310.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$32.17 E£1,718
99.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$43.92 E£2,345
-34.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$126 E£6,719
-24.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$54.1 E£2,888
62.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$163 E£8,682
353.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$80.5 E£4,299
474.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$258 E£13.8K
711.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$152 E£8,097
691.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$427 E£22.8K
716.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$221 E£11.8K
1041.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
El Faiyum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$70.5 E£3,762
610.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6
-7.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for El Faiyum: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
El Faiyum
$81 82.6% $382
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
El Faiyum
$113 58.1% $156
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
El Faiyum
$33 73.3% $91
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
El Faiyum
$115 7.3% $9.1
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
El Faiyum
$53 56.3% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
El Faiyum
$32 53.2% $36
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
El Faiyum
$7.5 81% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $163 in El Faiyum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 611% 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 $13.00 in El Faiyum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $113 per month, with El Faiyum cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇪🇬 El Faiyum
🕒 Local time
18:40 6:40 PM
14:40 2:40 PM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
306,393
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

EGP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 53.4 EGP (100 EGP = 1.87 USD). 1 EUR = 60.03 EGP (100 EGP = 1.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket El Faiyum 7,410 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • El Faiyum

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 El Faiyum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Faiyum cheaper than Phuket?
El Faiyum is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 179% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or El Faiyum?
Average pay runs 611% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and El Faiyum?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $163 in El Faiyum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in El Faiyum runs roughly 309% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $23.56 in El Faiyum. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in El Faiyum?
At $434 in El Faiyum versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Faiyum but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes El Faiyum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or El Faiyum more family-friendly?
For families, El Faiyum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or El Faiyum?
Safety-wise, Phuket and El Faiyum 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 El Faiyum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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