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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $556 in Gabes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $870 in Gabes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,184 in Gabes, rent included.

Phuket costs about 121% more than Gabes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gabes are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Gabes 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$2.88 TND 8.32
60.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$18.87 TND 54.5
148.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$3.48 TND 10.07
154.02%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$0.83 TND 2.41
261.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.70 TND 2.03
5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.25 TND 0.72
48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.22 TND 3.53
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$1.61 TND 4.66
124.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$0.45 TND 1.31
402.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.19 TND 0.56
868.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.33 TND 3.83
68.42%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$1.73 TND 5.01
34.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$12.22 TND 35.32
60.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$5.70 TND 16.48
-35.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$13.63 TND 39.40
-3.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.52 TND 4.38
123.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.83 TND 8.17
-42.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$0.94 TND 2.73
156.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$0.58 TND 1.67
250.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.71 TND 2.05
119.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.61 TND 1.75
145.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.36 TND 1.03
183.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.29 TND 0.83
68.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$3.29 TND 9.52
35.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$3.38 TND 9.77
458.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$0.68 TND 1.96
161.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$0.87 TND 2.51
216.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.19 TND 0.56
636.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$6.76 TND 19.55
69.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$0.29 TND 0.83
975.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.21 TND 0.60
376.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$6.19 TND 17.89
127.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$0.89 TND 2.57
51.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$46.3K TND 133.9K
-41.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$29.2K TND 84.3K
12.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$64.0 TND 185
95.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$7.43 TND 21.48
82.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$17.01 TND 49.17
8.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$31.85 TND 92.0
93.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$4.83 TND 13.96
248.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$6.27 TND 18.11
46.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$57.8 TND 167
1108.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$3,201 TND 9,250
387.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$31.91 TND 92.2
81.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$40.45 TND 117
-12.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$76.8 TND 222
47.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$83.4 TND 241
3.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$116 TND 336
430.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$72.5 TND 210
515.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$207 TND 598
890.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$120 TND 346
1147.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$958 TND 2,770
294.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$641 TND 1,854
312.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gabes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$423 TND 1,224
23.71%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gabes: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $116 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 24% 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 $19.00 in Gabes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $176 – 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 121%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $834 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 $698 per month in Phuket and $57.8 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 Gabes?
Groceries cost about 66% 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 Phuket or Gabes?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $556, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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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