Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and GafsaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gafsa
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $574 in Gafsa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $873 in Gafsa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,172 in Gafsa, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 120% more than Gafsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Gafsa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket5% lower, Gafsa57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$3.96TND 11.63
13.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$9.73TND 28.57
368.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$2.48TND 7.27
253.23%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$0.58TND 1.69
412.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.49TND 1.42
40.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.25TND 0.74
56.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.72TND 5.05
47.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.76TND 8.10
35.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$0.49TND 1.44
338.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.13TND 0.38
1300.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.70TND 4.97
28.24%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$1.07TND 3.13
110.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$10.48TND 30.74
90.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.07TND 17.82
-40.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$11.72TND 34.40
15.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.42TND 4.17
128.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$3.05TND 8.96
-46.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$0.83TND 2.44
180.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$0.77TND 2.25
168.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.74TND 2.17
109.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$0.52TND 1.54
180.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.47TND 1.38
108.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.28TND 0.82
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.53TND 7.44
71.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$6.59TND 19.34
181.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.28TND 3.76
45.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.63TND 4.79
62.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.35TND 1.04
305.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$11.20TND 32.86
3.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.29TND 0.85
993.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.24TND 0.70
329.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$3.32TND 9.73
318.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$0.87TND 2.55
54.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$39.6KTND 116.3K
-29.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$31.7KTND 93.2K
5.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$40.04TND 117
207.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$8.50TND 24.93
62.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$19.09TND 56.0
-3.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$15.37TND 45.09
294.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$12.75TND 37.42
34.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$5.34TND 15.67
66.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$61.5TND 181
1017.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$1,028TND 3,018
1434.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$40.48TND 119
46.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$53.7TND 158
-35.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$98.2TND 288
17.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$81.0TND 238
3.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$146TND 428
325.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$100TND 294
345.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$216TND 634
841.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$152TND 447
881.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$950TND 2,788
263.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$350TND 1,026
623.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gafsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$304TND 893
62.20%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Gafsa: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $146 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 62% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $10.00 in Gafsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $178 – 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 120%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $861 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 $688 per month in Phuket and $61.5 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 in Gafsa?
Groceries cost about 63% 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 Gafsa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.