😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $754 in Ellerton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,121 in Ellerton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,488 in Ellerton.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 62% more expensive than Ellerton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Ellerton43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$7.58BBD 15.17
-40.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$4.93BBD 9.86
72.21%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$1.01BBD 2.02
204.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.80BBD 3.59
-62.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$1.27BBD 2.53
-71.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$1.79BBD 3.58
35.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$2.20BBD 4.40
65.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$2.05BBD 4.10
6.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$1.80BBD 3.60
0.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
-
-
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$1.82BBD 3.64
-21.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
$20.11BBD 40.22
-41.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$24.58BBD 49.16
-87.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$50.5KBBD 101.0K
-44.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$44.5KBBD 89.0K
-24.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$98.7BBD 197
23.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$80.5BBD 161
-76.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$10.10BBD 20.19
-11.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$59.3BBD 119
-2.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$35.15BBD 70.3
0.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$70.9BBD 142
59.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$83.5BBD 167
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$303BBD 606
100.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$250BBD 501
78.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$741BBD 1,482
173.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$598BBD 1,196
149.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Ellerton: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $303 in Ellerton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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 Ellerton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellerton cheaper than Phuket?
Ellerton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $1,130 in Ellerton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Ellerton?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $303 in Ellerton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Ellerton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 658% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ellerton runs roughly 72% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Ellerton?
At $754 in Ellerton versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ellerton but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ellerton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ellerton more family-friendly?
For families, Ellerton 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 Ellerton?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ellerton 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 Ellerton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.