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 $1,002 in Fort Wellington.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,677 in Fort Wellington.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,352 in Fort Wellington.

Living in Phuket is roughly 26% more expensive than in Fort Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Fort Wellington 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$17.91 GYD 3,725
-73.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$71.6 GYD 14.9K
-54.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$9.60 GYD 1,996
-9.58%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.69 GYD 1,183
-49.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$1.21 GYD 251
-30.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.65 GYD 135
-24.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$1.86 GYD 387
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$3.38 GYD 704
10.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$3.16 GYD 657
-40.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$2.07 GYD 430
-31.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$2.01 GYD 417
-19.40%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$4.00 GYD 831
-44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$15.73 GYD 3,273
26.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$6.86 GYD 1,426
-49.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$8.82 GYD 1,835
28.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$8.19 GYD 1,702
-64.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$3.85 GYD 801
-55.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$4.11 GYD 854
-44.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$7.21 GYD 1,500
-70.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$2.37 GYD 492
-37.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$3.12 GYD 649
-54.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.99 GYD 623
-63.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$1.63 GYD 338
-63.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.27 GYD 680
31.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$16.97 GYD 3,529
9.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.80 GYD 374
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.52 GYD 524
17.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$4.39 GYD 914
-29.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$2.45 GYD 510
-55.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$12.03 GYD 2,502
-67.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.03 GYD 215
38.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$27.2K GYD 5.7M
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$23.1K GYD 4.8M
16.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$119 GYD 24.7K
-11.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$21.22 GYD 4,414
-46.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$42.79 GYD 8,899
-59.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$6.40 GYD 1,331
21.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$1,009 GYD 209.8K
-42.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$18.9K GYD 3.9M
-38.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$37.63 GYD 7,826
69.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$41.65 GYD 8,661
-30.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$134 GYD 27.8K
-28.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$85.8 GYD 17.8K
4.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Fort Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$967 GYD 201.1K
-47.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.94
-19.74%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Fort Wellington: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Fort Wellington pays 91% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $72.0 in Fort Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $394 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 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Fort Wellington?
On paper, salaries run 91% lower in Fort Wellington. 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 $576 in Phuket versus $1,009 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 in Fort Wellington?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Wellington – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Fort Wellington?
At $1,002 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 26% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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