😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $950 in Gaziantep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,418 in Gaziantep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,887 in Gaziantep.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 33% more expensive than Gaziantep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Gaziantep29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$7.42₺341
-36.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$30.65₺1,409
48.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$7.04₺324
19.74%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$3.75₺173
-21.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$1.16₺53.5
-40.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.37₺16.83
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$3.63₺167
-33.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.49₺160
6.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$0.98₺44.98
127.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.45₺20.59
306.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$2.06₺94.8
5.34%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$2.62₺121
-15.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$11.36₺522
73.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$5.09₺234
-28.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$20.87₺959
-35.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.21₺55.4
171.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$1.99₺91.4
-19.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$0.95₺43.82
153.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.15₺52.9
80.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.85₺39.04
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.60₺27.46
146.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.71₺32.68
39.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.39₺17.82
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.11₺97.0
109.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$11.09₺510
74.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.48₺114
-28.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.48₺160
-22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.74₺33.96
85.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$30.09₺1,383
-62.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$0.78₺35.73
287.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.61₺28.26
62.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$7.47₺343
88.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.13₺52.0
20.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$44.0K₺2.0M
-35.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$43.6K₺2.0M
-24.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$126₺5,804
-3.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$8.80₺404
54.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$9.13₺420
100.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$25.41₺1,168
136.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.59₺119
235.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$465₺21.4K
49.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$5,096₺234.2K
207.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$18.71₺860
218.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$25.19₺1,158
38.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$75.3₺3,462
52.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$50.2₺2,306
66.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$420₺19.3K
46.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$276₺12.7K
58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$596₺27.4K
251.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$418₺19.2K
260.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$1,012₺46.5K
270.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$654₺30.1K
299.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gaziantep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,156₺53.1K
-56.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
15
-64.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Gaziantep: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $420 in Gaziantep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gaziantep pays 127% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $31.00 in Gaziantep for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $235 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 Gaziantep?
Phuket and Gaziantep differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $950 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, Gaziantep earns 127% less. 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 Gaziantep?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $420 in Gaziantep. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gaziantep – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Gaziantep?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $950 in Gaziantep – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $950 in Gaziantep versus $1,265 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 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.