😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $761 in Ellerton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,127 in Ellerton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,493 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
$4.63฿151
$7.43BBD 14.87
-37.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,523
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿287
$5.03BBD 10.06
75.75%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿97.4
$1.02BBD 2.04
194.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.11
$1.71BBD 3.42
-56.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.88
$1.27BBD 2.54
-70.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.3
$1.73BBD 3.45
41.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿117
$2.29BBD 4.58
57.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.5
$1.95BBD 3.90
15.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿59.8
$1.87BBD 3.73
-1.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.0
-
-
Eggs
$2.32฿75.3
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿639
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿110
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.4
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.5
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.0
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.6
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.66
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.30
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿15.91
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿614
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿57.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿89.5
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.54
$1.82BBD 3.64
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿373
$20.18BBD 40.36
-43.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿101
$24.62BBD 49.25
-87.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿458
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿43.93
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿883.7K
$49.2KBBD 98.4K
-44.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$44.2KBBD 88.3K
-25.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,063
$99.2BBD 198
26.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿441
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿602
$80.8BBD 162
-77.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿1,999
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿299
$10.05BBD 20.11
-8.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿506.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$59.0BBD 118
-2.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,146
$34.77BBD 69.5
1.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,677
$69.5BBD 139
62.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,808
$85.4BBD 171
1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.0K
$303BBD 607
102.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.5K
$255BBD 510
75.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿66.6K
$741BBD 1,483
176.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.5K
$603BBD 1,205
147.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿122.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ellerton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.0K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ellerton: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 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 $1,847 in Phuket and $1,141 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: $616 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 666% 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 76% 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 $761 in Ellerton versus $1,232 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.