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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $902 in Elbasan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,452 in Elbasan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,002 in Elbasan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 40% more than Elbasan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Elbasan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Elbasan 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$10.20 ALL 805

-54.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$37.55 ALL 2,966

-14.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$6.91 ALL 545

25.62%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.79 ALL 142

62.01%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$1.35 ALL 107

-37.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.66 ALL 51.9

-25.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$2.20 ALL 174

12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$2.89 ALL 228

29.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$2.09 ALL 165

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.96 ALL 75.9

46.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$1.60 ALL 126

1.25%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$2.78 ALL 219

-19.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$10.31 ALL 814

92.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$6.03 ALL 477

-42.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$11.92 ALL 941

-4.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.23 ALL 96.8

135.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$2.27 ALL 180

-24.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$1.36 ALL 107

66.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$1.12 ALL 88.8

90.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$1.05 ALL 83.1

40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$1.10 ALL 87.2

29.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$0.80 ALL 63.5

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.67 ALL 53.1

-10.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$4.45 ALL 351

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$8.10 ALL 640

129.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$1.04 ALL 82.1

73.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$1.89 ALL 149

57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

$0.52 ALL 41.25

332.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

$20.18 ALL 1,594

16.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$3.85 ALL 304

-19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

$1.50 ALL 118

-28.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

$15.18 ALL 1,199

-74.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$2.17 ALL 172

-34.10%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$29.8K ALL 2.3M

-6.60%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$30.0K ALL 2.4M

-10.20%

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

$105 ฿3,462

$62.9 ALL 4,964

66.75%

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

$11.39 ฿376

$16.02 ALL 1,265

-28.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$12.07 ALL 954

45.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$59.4 ALL 4,693

-8.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

$17.50 ALL 1,382

-34.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$4.38 ALL 346

77.63%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$143 ALL 11.3K

303.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

$1,916 ALL 151.3K

504.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$75.6 ALL 5,968

-15.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$45.47 ALL 3,592

-36.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$98.2 ALL 7,756

-2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$100 ALL 7,930

-10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$312 ALL 24.6K

135.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

$206 ALL 16.3K

142.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

$449 ALL 35.4K

373.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$325 ALL 25.7K

284.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

$1,400 ALL 110.5K

152.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

$895 ALL 70.7K

192.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$574 ALL 45.3K

-11.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.1

-8.69%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Elbasan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $312 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 13% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $38.00 in Elbasan. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $218 in Elbasan – so Elbasan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 40%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,353 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 26% 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 $32.00 in Phuket and $38.00 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 $902, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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.