😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $798 in Franco da Rocha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,295 in Franco da Rocha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,793 in Franco da Rocha.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 59% more expensive than Franco da Rocha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Franco da Rocha40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$6.13R$31.58
-23.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,489
$33.07R$170
37.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿277
$7.12R$36.67
18.40%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿96.1
$1.89R$9.75
55.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.50
$1.32R$6.78
-47.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.04
$0.93R$4.80
-60.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.83R$9.40
31.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.37R$17.37
10.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.3
$1.09R$5.60
104.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿60.1
$1.55R$7.98
18.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿71.1
$1.24R$6.40
75.00%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.6
$2.32R$11.95
-4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿648
$8.42R$43.36
134.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$3.87R$19.94
-6.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿444
$8.64R$44.48
56.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿108
$2.19R$11.27
49.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.9
$1.75R$9.03
-8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.48R$7.62
62.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.60R$8.26
30.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.2
$1.32R$6.78
15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.58
$1.14R$5.87
29.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.44
$0.80R$4.11
23.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.74
$0.65R$3.36
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿145
$2.73R$14.08
61.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿636
$8.70R$44.81
122.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.4
$1.39R$7.14
28.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿89.0
$3.40R$17.49
-20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.99
$0.87R$4.50
57.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿374
$37.87R$195
-69.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿99.1
$0.93R$4.77
224.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.63
$1.03R$5.30
-3.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿463
$8.85R$45.59
59.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.71
$1.01R$5.19
34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿925.3K
$22.4KR$115.3K
26.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$28.7KR$148.1K
14.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,993
$47.86R$247
154.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿445
$15.24R$78.5
-10.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿601
$19.04R$98.1
-3.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,976
$22.90R$118
162.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿562
$21.65R$112
-20.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿285
$5.28R$27.21
64.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.8K
$319R$1,641
117.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿514.7K
$6,968R$35.9K
125.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,953
$57.4R$296
3.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,141
$51.0R$263
-31.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,760
$84.6R$436
35.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,733
$73.4R$378
13.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.1K
$315R$1,621
94.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$217R$1,115
101.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.7K
$575R$2,959
264.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.5K
$422R$2,172
258.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿123.0K
$1,658R$8,539
126.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.8K
$1,319R$6,793
98.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Franco da Rocha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Franco da Rocha: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $315 in Franco da Rocha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Franco da Rocha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $195 per month, with Franco da Rocha 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 Franco da Rocha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Franco da Rocha?
Phuket and Franco da Rocha differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $798 including rent). Franco da Rocha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Franco da Rocha?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,196 in Franco da Rocha to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Franco da Rocha?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $315 in Franco da Rocha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Franco da Rocha?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $798 in Franco da Rocha – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Franco da Rocha?
A monthly transit pass in Franco da Rocha runs roughly 232% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $798 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Franco da Rocha but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Franco da Rocha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Franco da Rocha?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Franco da Rocha safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Franco da Rocha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Franco da Rocha?
Expats usually find Franco da Rocha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.