Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and GeleenCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Geleen
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,421 in Geleen, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,478 in Geleen, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,534 in Geleen, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 49% cheaper than Geleen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Geleen is 81% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.05âŽ14.60
-72.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$81.7âŽ70.0
-42.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$12.55âŽ10.74
-29.56%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.92âŽ3.36
-23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.20âŽ2.74
-76.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.30âŽ1.97
-83.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$6.21âŽ5.32
-60.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.59âŽ4.79
-35.42%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.27âŽ1.09
77.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.17âŽ1.86
-15.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.33âŽ2.85
-32.73%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.45âŽ3.81
-47.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.65âŽ11.68
44.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$15.68âŽ13.42
-76.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$16.90âŽ14.46
-22.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.27âŽ1.94
49.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.55âŽ2.18
-35.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.97âŽ1.69
22.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.23âŽ3.62
-52.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.00âŽ1.71
-22.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.11âŽ1.81
-28.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.20âŽ1.02
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.81âŽ0.69
-39.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$14.54âŽ12.44
-69.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.23âŽ6.19
161.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.50âŽ1.28
18.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.73âŽ2.34
0.73%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$3.53âŽ3.02
-60.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$94.2âŽ80.6
-87.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.42âŽ2.93
-8.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.23âŽ1.91
-55.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.43âŽ25.19
-52.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.22âŽ1.90
-39.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.5KâŽ32.1K
-27.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.4KâŽ27.7K
1.74%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$198âŽ169
-36.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$25.15âŽ21.53
-46.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$40.35âŽ34.54
-54.10%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$40.22âŽ34.43
52.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$23.52âŽ20.13
-28.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$14.97âŽ12.82
-38.61%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,585âŽ1,357
-55.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$6,424âŽ5,499
142.72%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$73.6âŽ63.0
-21.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.90âŽ32.44
-7.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$121âŽ104
-6.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$129âŽ111
-33.10%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,410âŽ1,207
-56.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,193âŽ1,022
-62.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,314âŽ1,981
-11.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,723âŽ1,475
-13.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$5,509âŽ4,715
-31.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$5,161âŽ4,417
-48.67%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Geleen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$4,634âŽ3,966
-88.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.33
23.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Geleen: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,410 in Geleen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 785% higher in Geleen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $82.0 in Geleen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $343 â making Phuket 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 Geleen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geleen cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Geleen is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,631 in Geleen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 720% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $1,585 in Geleen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Geleen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Geleen at $2,421. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Geleen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Geleen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â 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 Geleen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geleen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.