Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Frankston Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Frankston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,104 in Frankston, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,029 in Frankston, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,954 in Frankston, rent included.

Phuket is about 41% cheaper than Frankston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Frankston is 57% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$11.85 A$16.59
-60.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$78.6 A$110
-40.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$9.81 A$13.73
-9.89%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$2.64 A$3.70
13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.61 A$3.66
-71.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$2.40 A$3.35
-84.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$7.34 A$10.27
-66.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$7.04 A$9.85
-48.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.49 A$2.09
51.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$2.37 A$3.32
-22.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.90 A$2.67
17.89%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$3.53 A$4.94
-34.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$8.72 A$12.21
125.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$9.15 A$12.81
-60.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$7.04 A$9.85
86.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.57 A$3.59
31.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.80 A$3.91
-41.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.67 A$3.74
-9.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$2.54 A$3.56
-20.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.71 A$3.79
-42.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.31 A$3.24
-35.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$2.12 A$2.97
-51.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$1.27 A$1.77
-61.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$32.50 A$45.51
-86.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$6.65 A$9.31
183.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.93 A$4.11
-39.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.88 A$5.43
-29.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$3.29 A$4.61
-57.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$64.2 A$89.8
-82.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.60 A$5.04
-13.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.40 A$1.96
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$26.58 A$37.21
-46.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.09 A$1.52
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$28.7K A$40.2K
-5.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$23.2K A$32.5K
41.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$154 A$216
-18.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$9.77 A$13.68
38.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$50.2 A$70.3
-63.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$48.75 A$68.3
26.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$15.46 A$21.64
8.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$15.99 A$22.39
-42.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$1,725 A$2,414
-59.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$19.2K A$26.8K
-18.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$66.8 A$93.5
-13.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$54.4 A$76.1
-35.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$80.9 A$113
39.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$45.25 A$63.4
90.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$1,263 A$1,768
-51.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$1,085 A$1,519
-58.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$2,048 A$2,867
0.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$1,650 A$2,310
-9.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$5,604 A$7,846
-32.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$5,591 A$7,827
-52.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Frankston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$4,486 A$6,281
-88.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.19
-13.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Frankston: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,263 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 756% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $79.0 in Frankston. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $279 in Frankston – so Frankston wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 71%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,156 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 Frankston?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Frankston – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Frankston?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $79.0 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 Phuket or Frankston?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Frankston at $2,104. 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.

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