😐A single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $1,171 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $1,823 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $2,475 in Falmouth, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 7% more than Falmouth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Falmouth are more affordable than the global median – Phuket7% lower, Falmouth13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59฿147
$7.24JMD 1,146
-36.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83฿1,500
$62.8JMD 9,942
-25.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70฿279
$8.99JMD 1,423
-3.23%
Cappuccino
$2.92฿93.7
$4.23JMD 669
-30.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿21.90
$1.31JMD 208
-48.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿12.69
$0.70JMD 111
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51฿80.3
$2.57JMD 407
-2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿122
$3.11JMD 492
22.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16฿69.2
$4.28JMD 678
-49.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88฿60.3
$3.46JMD 548
-45.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16฿69.1
$1.56JMD 247
38.46%
Eggs
$2.22฿71.1
$3.52JMD 558
-36.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57฿627
$11.15JMD 1,765
75.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80฿122
$6.18JMD 978
-38.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41฿430
$7.70JMD 1,219
74.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26฿104
$6.06JMD 958
-46.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿51.6
$3.11JMD 492
-48.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31฿73.9
$4.18JMD 662
-44.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06฿65.9
$2.93JMD 464
-29.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61฿51.4
$2.04JMD 323
-21.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44฿46.23
$1.96JMD 310
-26.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿32.99
$3.07JMD 486
-66.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.38
$1.43JMD 226
-66.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50฿144
$8.74JMD 1,383
-48.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18฿614
$11.34JMD 1,794
69.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿58.4
$2.80JMD 444
-35.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69฿86.2
$3.09JMD 489
-12.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38฿44.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76฿377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿99.5
$1.08JMD 170
187.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.16
$3.15JMD 498
-68.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74฿440
$6.34JMD 1,004
116.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30฿41.58
$1.25JMD 197
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿876.5K
$43.1KJMD 6.8M
-36.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K฿1.1M
$33.3KJMD 5.3M
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,001
$164JMD 25.9K
-23.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74฿440
$22.25JMD 3,522
-38.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61฿596
$50.9JMD 8,050
-63.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6฿1,940
$28.50JMD 4,510
112.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15฿549
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01฿289
$13.25JMD 2,097
-32.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.4K
$228JMD 36.1K
206.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K฿516.2K
$2,437JMD 385.8K
561.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2฿1,897
$26.16JMD 4,141
126.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86฿1,117
$25.30JMD 4,004
37.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114฿3,659
$71.8JMD 11.4K
59.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8฿2,749
$76.2JMD 12.1K
12.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿19.8K
$309JMD 48.9K
100.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.0K
$247JMD 39.0K
77.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075฿66.5K
$528JMD 83.6K
292.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿48.4K
$469JMD 74.2K
222.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764฿120.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694฿86.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528฿16.9K
-
-
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Falmouth: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $309 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 in Phuket versus $63 in Falmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $348 – 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 7% 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 $1,870 per month in Phuket and $1,756 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 19% 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 $1,171, than in Phuket at $1,247. 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 $1,171 versus $1,247 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.