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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $917 in Elbasan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,433 in Elbasan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,949 in Elbasan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 38% more than Elbasan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Elbasan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Elbasan 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$9.47 ALL 776

-52.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$32.67 ALL 2,678

39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$7.12 ALL 584

23.03%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$1.80 ALL 148

65.00%

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

$0.69 ฿22.96

$1.29 ALL 105

-46.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.75 ALL 61.1

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$1.81 ALL 148

39.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.30 ALL 188

63.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.80 ALL 148

19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$0.92 ALL 75.7

97.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$1.49 ALL 122

46.31%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$3.00 ALL 246

-25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

$9.69 ALL 794

106.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$5.44 ALL 446

-33.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$12.45 ALL 1,021

8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

$0.87 ALL 71.1

272.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$2.37 ALL 194

-30.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

$1.25 ALL 103

86.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$0.93 ALL 76.2

122.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.01 ALL 82.4

53.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$1.03 ALL 84.6

41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

$0.90 ALL 73.6

8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$0.57 ALL 46.45

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$3.96 ALL 324

9.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

$8.13 ALL 666

128.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$0.90 ALL 73.6

106.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$1.43 ALL 117

85.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

$0.48 ALL 39.35

195.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

$18.61 ALL 1,525

-37.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$3.43 ALL 281

-7.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

$1.28 ALL 105

-19.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

$14.32 ALL 1,173

-3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

$2.18 ALL 179

-38.53%

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

$27.8K ฿929.6K

$21.6K ALL 1.8M

28.73%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$27.7K ALL 2.3M

20.65%

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

$123 ฿4,116

$66.8 ALL 5,471

84.32%

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

$13.77 ฿461

$17.59 ALL 1,442

-21.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

$15.21 ALL 1,246

20.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

$66.0 ALL 5,410

-8.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

$16.18 ALL 1,326

6.06%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

$5.67 ALL 465

56.44%

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

$688 ฿23.0K

$139 ALL 11.4K

395.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

$1,791 ALL 146.8K

780.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

$47.58 ALL 3,899

24.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

$34.42 ALL 2,821

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

$95.5 ALL 7,827

20.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

$179 ALL 14.7K

-53.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

$286 ALL 23.4K

117.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$194 ALL 15.9K

130.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

$415 ALL 34.0K

389.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

$296 ALL 24.2K

405.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

$1,310 ALL 107.4K

163.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

$866 ALL 70.9K

192.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$550 ALL 45.1K

-10.31%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Elbasan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $286 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 12% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $33.00 in Elbasan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 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 38%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,375 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 41% 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 $46.00 in Phuket and $33.00 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 $917, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.