Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Falmouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Falmouth

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Phuket 6% lower, Falmouth 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$7.14 JMD 1,123
-36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,535
$62.6 JMD 9,853
-25.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿279
$8.88 JMD 1,396
-4.62%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿99.7
$4.44 JMD 699
-31.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.69
$1.38 JMD 216
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.04
$0.75 JMD 117
-50.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.9
$2.48 JMD 391
0.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$3.16 JMD 496
15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.8
$4.44 JMD 698
-50.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.6
$3.59 JMD 564
-47.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿72.4
$1.63 JMD 257
34.97%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿73.2
$3.57 JMD 562
-37.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿658
$11.09 JMD 1,744
80.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿121
$6.33 JMD 996
-42.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿436
$7.77 JMD 1,223
70.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿106
$6.10 JMD 960
-47.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.9
$3.05 JMD 479
-44.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.8
$4.34 JMD 682
-44.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$2.91 JMD 457
-28.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿52.4
$2.03 JMD 319
-21.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.83
$1.94 JMD 305
-23.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.90
$2.99 JMD 470
-65.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.01
$1.46 JMD 229
-64.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿140
$8.92 JMD 1,403
-52.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿618
$11.60 JMD 1,824
61.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.8
$2.88 JMD 453
-38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿90.8
$3.06 JMD 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
$1.13 JMD 178
177.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿34.10
$3.13 JMD 492
-66.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿453
$6.13 JMD 965
124.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.26
$1.28 JMD 201
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿911.1K
$42.6K JMD 6.7M
-34.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$33.5K JMD 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
$163 JMD 25.7K
-24.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿445
$22.15 JMD 3,484
-38.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿615
$50.9 JMD 7,999
-63.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,035
$28.51 JMD 4,484
116.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿568
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿301
$13.05 JMD 2,052
-29.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿23.1K
$223 JMD 35.1K
215.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿522.5K
$2,498 JMD 392.9K
535.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,958
$25.62 JMD 4,030
132.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,154
$25.27 JMD 3,974
38.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,795
$70.8 JMD 11.1K
62.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,767
$77.1 JMD 12.1K
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Falmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.4K
$318 JMD 50.0K
94.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.2K
$255 JMD 40.2K
69.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.9K
$533 JMD 83.8K
287.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.7K
$463 JMD 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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