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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $916 in Elbasan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,471 in Elbasan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,026 in Elbasan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 34% more than Elbasan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Elbasan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Elbasan 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$9.24 ALL 754

-49.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$31.89 ALL 2,604

46.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$7.18 ALL 586

23.12%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$1.80 ALL 147

66.67%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.27 ALL 103

-41.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.68 ALL 55.4

-45.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.74 ALL 142

40.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$2.37 ALL 194

52.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.84 ALL 150

22.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$0.92 ALL 74.9

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.56 ALL 128

43.59%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.91 ALL 238

-20.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$9.77 ALL 798

101.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$5.34 ALL 436

-31.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$12.41 ALL 1,013

5.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$0.91 ALL 74.5

272.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.37 ALL 193

-30.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.26 ALL 103

91.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$0.89 ALL 73.1

128.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$0.92 ALL 75.3

69.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.09 ALL 88.8

37.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$0.98 ALL 80.3

4.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.60 ALL 49.04

-18.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$3.99 ALL 326

11.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$8.24 ALL 672

129.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.92 ALL 75.4

93.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.46 ALL 119

88.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.45 ALL 36.64

211.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$18.66 ALL 1,523

-38.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.60 ALL 294

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$1.29 ALL 105

-22.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$14.36 ALL 1,173

-1.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$2.11 ALL 172

-36.02%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$21.0K ALL 1.7M

29.26%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$27.5K ALL 2.2M

19.68%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$67.2 ALL 5,487

85.95%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$17.26 ALL 1,409

-21.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$15.29 ALL 1,248

21.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$65.6 ALL 5,359

-6.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$16.37 ALL 1,336

2.87%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$5.43 ALL 443

69.24%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$139 ALL 11.4K

401.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$1,789 ALL 146.1K

771.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$104 ALL 8,511

-44.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$34.21 ALL 2,793

3.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$93.8 ALL 7,660

20.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$180 ALL 14.7K

-51.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$289 ALL 23.6K

113.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$198 ALL 16.2K

124.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$421 ALL 34.4K

386.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$300 ALL 24.5K

397.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$1,362 ALL 111.2K

177.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$847 ALL 69.1K

212.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$550 ALL 44.9K

-4.85%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Elbasan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $289 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 5% 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: $292 vs $207 – 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 34%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,374 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 $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 $916, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.