ðA single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $2,291 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $3,398 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $4,506 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 46% cheaper than Ely, Cambridgeshire, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 7% below the global median, while Ely, Cambridgeshire is 70% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$19.14ÂĢ14.18
-76.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$89.6ÂĢ66.4
-47.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$12.76ÂĢ9.45
-31.82%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$5.61ÂĢ4.16
-47.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.53ÂĢ1.87
-73.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.85ÂĢ1.37
-78.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$5.18ÂĢ3.84
-51.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$4.37ÂĢ3.24
-13.04%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.59ÂĢ1.18
35.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$1.60ÂĢ1.18
17.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$2.29ÂĢ1.70
-5.68%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$3.94ÂĢ2.92
-43.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$9.72ÂĢ7.21
101.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$8.85ÂĢ6.56
-57.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$13.80ÂĢ10.22
-2.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$3.19ÂĢ2.36
2.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.64ÂĢ1.21
-1.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.78ÂĢ2.06
-16.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$3.45ÂĢ2.56
-40.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.71ÂĢ1.26
-5.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.49ÂĢ1.10
-3.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.11ÂĢ0.82
-7.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$1.50ÂĢ1.12
-68.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$18.73ÂĢ13.88
-75.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$10.82ÂĢ8.02
77.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$2.82ÂĢ2.09
-35.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$3.21ÂĢ2.38
-16.20%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$3.40ÂĢ2.52
-59.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$90.3ÂĢ66.9
-86.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$5.49ÂĢ4.07
-43.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.54ÂĢ1.14
-35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$23.37ÂĢ17.32
-41.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$1.95ÂĢ1.44
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$37.8KÂĢ28.0K
-27.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$41.8KÂĢ31.0K
-21.07%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$297ÂĢ220
-57.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$17.40ÂĢ12.89
-21.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$42.68ÂĢ31.62
-56.40%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$45.48ÂĢ33.70
33.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$13.44ÂĢ9.96
-32.96%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$1,572ÂĢ1,165
-55.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$18.3KÂĢ13.6K
-12.01%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$82.2ÂĢ60.9
-27.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$42.70ÂĢ31.64
-18.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$91.8ÂĢ68.1
24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$99.4ÂĢ73.6
-13.66%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$1,239ÂĢ918
-50.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$986ÂĢ731
-55.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$2,000ÂĢ1,482
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$1,675ÂĢ1,241
-9.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$6,665ÂĢ4,939
-43.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$6,116ÂĢ4,532
-55.96%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$2,954ÂĢ2,189
-82.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.63
-5.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Ely, Cambridgeshire: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $1,239 in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 459% higher in Ely, Cambridgeshire, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $90 in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $299 â making Phuket 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 Ely, Cambridgeshire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ely, Cambridgeshire cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Ely, Cambridgeshire is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Phuket and $3,437 in Ely, Cambridgeshire. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Ely, Cambridgeshire?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Phuket and $2,291 in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 668% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Ely, Cambridgeshire?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Ely, Cambridgeshire at $2,291. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ely, Cambridgeshire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Ely, Cambridgeshire more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ely, Cambridgeshire?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ely, Cambridgeshire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.