Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Galcaio Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Galcaio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $187 in Galcaio, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $304 in Galcaio, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $421 in Galcaio, rent included.

Phuket costs about 575% more than Galcaio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Galcaio are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Galcaio 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$3.03 SOS 1,719

53.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$3.98 SOS 2,261

118.09%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.01 SOS 574

187.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ฿27.89

$0.57 SOS 324

47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.20 SOS 115

145.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.54 SOS 872

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.52 SOS 294

171.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$0.73 SOS 417

121.92%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$3.03 SOS 1,720

-26.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$1.95 SOS 1,105

917.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$4.94 SOS 2,804

-29.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$6.18 SOS 3,508

83.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.96 SOS 1,111

47.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$0.73 SOS 413

135.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$1.02 SOS 579

108.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$1.02 SOS 578

44.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$1.01 SOS 574

40.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$0.52 SOS 295

111.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.98 SOS 555

-38.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$0.48 SOS 274

797.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$2.05 SOS 1,165

807.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$2.03 SOS 1,152

-11.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$2.04 SOS 1,159

45.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿918.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿891.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 ฿3,462

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.39 ฿376

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Galcaio: September 7, 2026

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 Galcaio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 575%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $281 in Galcaio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $187 in Galcaio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Galcaio, where all-in costs run around $187, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Galcaio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Galcaio – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Galcaio. 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.