Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gafsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gafsa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $569 in Gafsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $882 in Gafsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,196 in Gafsa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 115% more than Gafsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gafsa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Gafsa 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$3.95 TND 11.49
14.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$9.89 TND 28.76
371.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$2.58 TND 7.50
229.07%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$0.57 TND 1.66
440.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$0.49 TND 1.43
38.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$0.23 TND 0.66
56.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
$1.68 TND 4.87
44.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
$2.74 TND 7.96
32.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$0.50 TND 1.45
338.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$0.15 TND 0.42
1106.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$1.66 TND 4.84
34.34%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$1.02 TND 2.95
119.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$10.56 TND 30.70
85.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$5.84 TND 16.97
-36.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$11.40 TND 33.15
18.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$1.40 TND 4.08
140.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$3.16 TND 9.20
-48.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$0.81 TND 2.37
197.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$0.70 TND 2.04
184.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$0.74 TND 2.16
106.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$0.51 TND 1.50
184.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$0.46 TND 1.35
119.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.30 TND 0.88
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$2.51 TND 7.29
70.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
$7.52 TND 21.85
154.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
$1.29 TND 3.75
42.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
$1.65 TND 4.79
66.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.35 TND 1.02
305.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$11.03 TND 32.08
6.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$0.29 TND 0.84
934.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.22 TND 0.64
377.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$3.41 TND 9.91
307.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$0.81 TND 2.36
59.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$39.6K TND 115.1K
-29.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$32.8K TND 95.3K
2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$40.20 TND 117
203.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$8.58 TND 24.93
62.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$19.38 TND 56.3
-2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$15.13 TND 43.98
305.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$12.52 TND 36.39
34.50%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$5.37 TND 15.62
65.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$61.2 TND 178
1029.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$1,005 TND 2,922
1507.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$40.05 TND 116
44.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$53.5 TND 156
-33.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$94.7 TND 275
19.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$80.7 TND 235
2.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$144 TND 417
322.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$102 TND 297
338.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$213 TND 619
853.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$150 TND 437
892.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,015 TND 2,950
253.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$354 TND 1,029
630.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
$307 TND 892
64.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
8.88
-39.98%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Gafsa: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $144 in Gafsa. 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 65% 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 $10.00 in Gafsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $179 – making Gafsa 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 Gafsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gafsa cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 115%, 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 $854 in Gafsa. 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 Gafsa, 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 $61.2 in Gafsa. 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 Gafsa?
Groceries cost about 64% 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 Gafsa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $569, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Gafsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Gafsa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gafsa – 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 Gafsa?
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 Gafsa. 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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