Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Elbasan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Elbasan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $919 in Elbasan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,443 in Elbasan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,967 in Elbasan, rent included.

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

Both Phuket and Elbasan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Elbasan 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$9.64 ALL 787

-52.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$32.11 ALL 2,624

45.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$7.21 ALL 589

17.48%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.79 ALL 146

69.27%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.29 ALL 105

-46.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.68 ALL 55.9

-45.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.79 ALL 146

39.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.43 ALL 198

50.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.84 ALL 150

18.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.93 ALL 76.3

104.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.56 ALL 128

41.03%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$3.04 ALL 249

-26.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.05 ALL 821

98.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.21 ALL 426

-29.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$12.14 ALL 992

9.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$0.85 ALL 69.5

280.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.48 ALL 202

-31.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.25 ALL 102

91.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.97 ALL 79.0

114.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.96 ALL 78.1

65.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.09 ALL 88.8

35.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.90 ALL 73.5

14.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.57 ALL 46.46

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$3.96 ALL 323

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$7.70 ALL 629

144.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$0.90 ALL 73.6

95.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.50 ALL 123

84.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.48 ALL 39.39

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$19.18 ALL 1,567

-40.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$3.46 ALL 283

-9.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.24 ALL 101

-16.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$13.90 ALL 1,136

-0.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$2.11 ALL 172

-36.49%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$21.0K ALL 1.7M

31.59%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$27.2K ALL 2.2M

24.69%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$68.5 ALL 5,596

80.45%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.59 ALL 1,437

-23.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$15.13 ALL 1,236

23.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$66.0 ALL 5,392

-6.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$16.22 ALL 1,325

6.35%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$5.74 ALL 469

59.23%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$142 ALL 11.6K

394.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$1,761 ALL 143.9K

801.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$46.55 ALL 3,804

27.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$34.60 ALL 2,827

1.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$93.6 ALL 7,650

23.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$177 ALL 14.5K

-52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$284 ALL 23.2K

117.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$196 ALL 16.0K

120.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$423 ALL 34.5K

387.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$296 ALL 24.2K

411.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,350 ALL 110.3K

170.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$862 ALL 70.5K

204.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$536 ALL 43.8K

-5.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.1

-12.62%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Elbasan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $284 in Elbasan. 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 6% higher in Elbasan, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $32.00 in Elbasan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $206 – making Elbasan 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 Elbasan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,378 in Elbasan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Elbasan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $32.00 in Elbasan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elbasan, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Elbasan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Elbasan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Elbasan. 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.