Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Fort Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Fort Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $892 in Fort Wellington.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,535 in Fort Wellington.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,177 in Fort Wellington.

Living in Phuket is roughly 42% more expensive than Fort Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Fort Wellington 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$12.10 GYD 2,516
-61.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$71.2 GYD 14.8K
-36.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.86 GYD 1,841
-4.85%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$5.12 GYD 1,065
-42.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.21 GYD 251
-42.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.69 GYD 144
-46.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.98 GYD 412
21.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.41 GYD 501
54.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$3.45 GYD 717
-35.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$2.12 GYD 442
-13.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.00 GYD 415
8.50%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$4.11 GYD 855
-46.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$13.65 GYD 2,838
44.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.25 GYD 1,300
-41.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.71 GYD 2,019
39.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$9.68 GYD 2,011
-66.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.56 GYD 533
-37.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$3.19 GYD 663
-24.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$6.49 GYD 1,350
-67.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.41 GYD 502
-36.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.95 GYD 614
-49.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$2.37 GYD 492
-58.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$1.52 GYD 316
-66.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.63 GYD 546
67.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$16.98 GYD 3,531
14.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.76 GYD 366
1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.44 GYD 508
11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$3.05 GYD 633
-0.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$11.95 GYD 2,484
17.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.00 GYD 208
36.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$21.9K GYD 4.6M
28.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$17.3K GYD 3.6M
89.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$90.6 GYD 18.8K
34.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$27.40 GYD 5,697
-50.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$52.1 GYD 10.8K
-64.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.77 GYD 1,408
28.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$1,007 GYD 209.3K
-31.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$22.9K GYD 4.8M
-31.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$35.06 GYD 7,289
69.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$53.7 GYD 11.2K
-35.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$130 GYD 27.1K
-12.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$76.2 GYD 15.8K
9.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$981 GYD 203.9K
-48.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
7.5
-28.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Fort Wellington: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Fort Wellington pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $71.0 in Fort Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $379 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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 Fort Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Wellington cheaper than Phuket?
Fort Wellington is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Fort Wellington?
On paper, Fort Wellington earns 93% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $1,007 in Fort Wellington. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Fort Wellington?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Wellington – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Fort Wellington?
At $892 in Fort Wellington versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fort Wellington but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Wellington the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Fort Wellington more family-friendly?
For families, Fort Wellington 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 Fort Wellington?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Fort Wellington 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 Fort Wellington gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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