🙂A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $2,502 in Frankston, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $3,466 in Frankston, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $4,430 in Frankston, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 49% cheaper than Frankston, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Frankston is 81% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿155
$15.69A$21.97
-70.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,070
$61.5A$86.2
-47.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿288
$10.89A$15.26
-20.29%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$2.95A$4.14
-1.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿28.02
$3.23A$4.53
-73.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.24
$2.14A$3.00
-77.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.4
$10.08A$14.12
-75.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿124
$7.09A$9.93
-47.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.6
$1.67A$2.34
13.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.76
$2.65A$3.71
-46.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
$2.12A$2.96
-23.58%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.4
$3.89A$5.44
-42.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿659
$11.35A$15.89
74.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$10.09A$14.13
-65.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿377
$7.71A$10.80
47.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿96.3
$2.72A$3.81
6.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.3
$3.10A$4.34
-44.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.5
$2.97A$4.16
-23.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.8
$2.86A$4.01
-25.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.96
$3.30A$4.63
-55.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿47.14
$2.63A$3.69
-46.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.43
$2.51A$3.51
-56.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.86
$1.40A$1.96
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿143
$45.23A$63.4
-90.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿618
$6.60A$9.24
181.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.8
$3.25A$4.55
-44.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.5
$4.45A$6.23
-33.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.6
$3.71A$5.19
-39.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿780
$87.1A$122
-73.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿103
$4.56A$6.39
-32.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.73
$1.48A$2.07
-27.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿129
$31.70A$44.40
-87.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.39
$1.26A$1.77
13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿922.5K
$29.3KA$41.1K
-5.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿895.9K
$27.0KA$37.8K
0.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,479
$244A$342
-57.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿378
$10.89A$15.25
4.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿582
$56.9A$79.6
-69.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,804
$57.5A$80.5
-5.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿380
$18.28A$25.60
-37.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿258
$18.35A$25.69
-57.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.1K
$2,454A$3,437
-76.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿384.5K
$31.8KA$44.5K
-63.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,113
$80.9A$113
-21.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿966
$51.2A$71.6
-43.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,195
$89.4A$125
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,988
$50.2A$70.3
79.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.3K
$1,498A$2,098
-51.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.6K
$1,275A$1,786
-60.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.6K
$2,305A$3,228
-7.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.6K
$1,884A$2,639
-33.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿117.3K
$6,186A$8,664
-42.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿87.1K
$5,022A$7,034
-47.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.9K
$4,533A$6,349
-88.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.84
-4.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Frankston: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $1,498 in Frankston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 793% higher in Frankston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $62.0 in Frankston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $314 – 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 Frankston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frankston cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Frankston is pricier by about 98%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $3,752 in Frankston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Frankston?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Frankston, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Frankston?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $62.0 in Frankston. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Frankston?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Frankston at $2,502. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Frankston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Frankston more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Frankston?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Frankston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.