😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,167 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,849 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,531 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 8% more than Falmouth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Falmouth are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Falmouth13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$7.14JMD 1,123
-36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,535
$62.6JMD 9,853
-25.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿279
$8.88JMD 1,396
-4.62%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿99.7
$4.44JMD 699
-31.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.69
$1.38JMD 216
-50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.04
$0.75JMD 117
-50.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.9
$2.48JMD 391
0.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿120
$3.16JMD 496
15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.8
$4.44JMD 698
-50.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.6
$3.59JMD 564
-47.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿72.4
$1.63JMD 257
34.97%
Eggs
$2.22฿73.2
$3.57JMD 562
-37.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿658
$11.09JMD 1,744
80.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿121
$6.33JMD 996
-42.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿436
$7.77JMD 1,223
70.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿106
$6.10JMD 960
-47.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.9
$3.05JMD 479
-44.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.8
$4.34JMD 682
-44.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$2.91JMD 457
-28.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿52.4
$2.03JMD 319
-21.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.83
$1.94JMD 305
-23.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.90
$2.99JMD 470
-65.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.01
$1.46JMD 229
-64.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿140
$8.92JMD 1,403
-52.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿618
$11.60JMD 1,824
61.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.8
$2.88JMD 453
-38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿90.8
$3.06JMD 481
-9.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿374
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿103
$1.13JMD 178
177.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿34.10
$3.13JMD 492
-66.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿453
$6.13JMD 965
124.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.26
$1.28JMD 201
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿911.1K
$42.6KJMD 6.7M
-34.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$33.5KJMD 5.3M
1.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,069
$163JMD 25.7K
-24.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿445
$22.15JMD 3,484
-38.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿615
$50.9JMD 7,999
-63.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,035
$28.51JMD 4,484
116.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿568
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿301
$13.05JMD 2,052
-29.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿23.1K
$223JMD 35.1K
215.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿522.5K
$2,498JMD 392.9K
535.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,958
$25.62JMD 4,030
132.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,154
$25.27JMD 3,974
38.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,795
$70.8JMD 11.1K
62.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,767
$77.1JMD 12.1K
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.4K
$318JMD 50.0K
94.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.2K
$255JMD 40.2K
69.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.9K
$533JMD 83.8K
287.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.7K
$463JMD 72.8K
226.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿120.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿86.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.15
-41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Falmouth: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $318 in Falmouth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $63.0 in Falmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $353 – 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 Falmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Falmouth?
Phuket costs about 8% more than Falmouth, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Falmouth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,750 in Falmouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Falmouth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Falmouth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Falmouth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $63.0 in Falmouth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Falmouth?
Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Falmouth?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Falmouth, where all-in costs run around $1,167, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Falmouth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Falmouth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Falmouth costs $1,167 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Falmouth?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Falmouth?
If budget matters most, go with Falmouth. 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.