Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gabes Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gabes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $547 in Gabes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $858 in Gabes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,170 in Gabes, rent included.

Phuket costs about 124% more than Gabes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gabes are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Gabes 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿148
$2.81 TND 8.26
60.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,528
$18.47 TND 54.2
152.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿278
$3.61 TND 10.60
135.18%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿101
$0.79 TND 2.32
289.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.26
$0.70 TND 2.04
-2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.84
$0.27 TND 0.80
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿79.5
$1.21 TND 3.54
100.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$1.60 TND 4.70
126.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.7
$0.49 TND 1.45
346.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.5
$0.17 TND 0.50
964.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿73.1
$1.28 TND 3.75
74.22%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.3
$1.75 TND 5.12
28.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿642
$12.07 TND 35.42
62.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.47 TND 16.06
-31.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿441
$13.60 TND 39.93
-0.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿110
$1.58 TND 4.65
112.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$2.91 TND 8.53
-44.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$0.92 TND 2.71
161.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿65.2
$0.62 TND 1.81
220.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.2
$0.70 TND 2.05
118.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.59
$0.60 TND 1.76
141.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿33.23
$0.36 TND 1.05
180.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.86
$0.29 TND 0.85
65.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$3.38 TND 9.92
26.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿627
$3.34 TND 9.81
472.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.2
$0.68 TND 2.00
170.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.8
$0.83 TND 2.45
230.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.44
$0.19 TND 0.55
647.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿384
$6.59 TND 19.34
77.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿98.4
$0.31 TND 0.91
867.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.28
$0.19 TND 0.55
452.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿456
$6.04 TND 17.73
130.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿42.28
$0.86 TND 2.54
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿918.7K
$46.2K TND 135.6K
-39.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$28.2K TND 82.9K
18.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,997
$65.2 TND 191
87.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿457
$7.40 TND 21.74
88.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿618
$17.23 TND 50.6
9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿2,008
$32.48 TND 95.4
88.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿552
$4.79 TND 14.07
251.57%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿291
$6.27 TND 18.39
41.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.7K
$57.6 TND 169
1099.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿529.5K
$3,243 TND 9,521
398.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,894
$32.49 TND 95.4
77.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,160
$40.17 TND 118
-11.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,716
$77.1 TND 226
47.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,720
$83.7 TND 246
-0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.9K
$115 TND 338
427.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.7K
$71.2 TND 209
529.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.5K
$206 TND 603
887.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.9K
$121 TND 354
1137.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿117.5K
$1,029 TND 3,020
248.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.7K
$641 TND 1,883
303.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.5K
$424 TND 1,245
19.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12
-55.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Gabes: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $115 in Gabes. 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 19% higher in Phuket, 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 $18.00 in Gabes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $175 – making Gabes 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 Gabes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gabes cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 124%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,835 per month in Phuket and $820 in Gabes. 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 Gabes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $57.6 in Gabes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Gabes?
Groceries cost about 67% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Gabes?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $547, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Gabes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gabes – 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 Gabes?
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 Gabes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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