😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $711 in Gaziantep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,179 in Gaziantep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,647 in Gaziantep.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 73% more expensive than in Gaziantep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Gaziantep48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$4.79₺233
-7.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$30.39₺1,479
6.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$7.25₺353
23.17%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.12₺152
-7.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.96₺46.78
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.22₺10.69
118.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$2.45₺119
-4.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$3.13₺152
18.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$0.90₺43.87
107.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.91₺44.33
61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.78₺86.5
-12.92%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$1.82₺88.3
15.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$8.85₺430
121.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$3.38₺164
1.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$17.77₺865
-35.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.52₺74.1
96.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.61₺78.5
4.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$0.84₺41.06
163.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$0.88₺42.72
145.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.47₺22.88
223.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.39₺18.83
243.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.75₺36.47
50.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.41₺19.88
34.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$1.91₺92.9
123.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$8.34₺406
128.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$2.28₺111
-21.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.09₺102
33.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.60₺29.11
271.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.78₺37.74
288.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.50₺24.24
104.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$10.45₺508
-62.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.27₺61.9
17.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$41.7K₺2.0M
-36.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$39.5K₺1.9M
-31.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$30.58₺1,488
235.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$9.57₺466
18.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$10.71₺521
62.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$57.8₺2,813
-9.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$3.81₺185
101.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$459₺22.3K
22.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$7,125₺346.7K
61.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$15.50₺754
306.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$14.32₺697
106.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$53.8₺2,616
82.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$35.44₺1,725
149.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$323₺15.7K
128.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$217₺10.6K
122.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$702₺34.2K
199.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$443₺21.6K
176.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$935₺45.5K
286.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$615₺29.9K
323.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$1,112₺54.1K
-55.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
36
-84.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Gaziantep: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $323 in Gaziantep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gaziantep pays 125% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Gaziantep for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $197 per month, with Gaziantep cheaper across the board.
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 Gaziantep: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Gaziantep?
Phuket and Gaziantep differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $711 including rent). Gaziantep is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 125% lower in Gaziantep. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Gaziantep?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $323 in Gaziantep. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Gaziantep?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $459 in Gaziantep. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gaziantep – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $711 in Gaziantep versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gaziantep but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gaziantep the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Gaziantep?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Gaziantep safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Gaziantep are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Gaziantep?
Expats usually find Gaziantep gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.