Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and George Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and George

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,078 in George.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,760 in George.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,441 in George.

Living in Phuket is roughly 14% more expensive than George, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, George 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
George
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$11.17 R 187
-58.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$37.91 R 636
23.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$5.12 R 85.8
72.66%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.93 R 32.44
55.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.52 R 25.52
-51.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$1.21 R 20.29
-69.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.53 R 42.50
-3.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$2.97 R 49.75
21.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
George
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.10 R 18.48
105.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.10 R 18.51
67.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.60 R 26.82
40.00%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.99 R 50.1
-22.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$9.74 R 163
101.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$4.71 R 78.9
-22.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$7.71 R 129
69.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.76 R 29.55
92.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.62 R 27.18
1.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.43 R 24.00
68.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.55 R 25.97
30.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.57 R 26.30
-0.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.77 R 29.71
-15.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.28 R 21.46
-20.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.94 R 15.83
-47.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$3.12 R 52.4
42.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$4.71 R 79.0
300.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.21 R 20.28
47.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$1.61 R 26.94
70.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
George
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.77 R 12.90
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$25.75 R 432
-55.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$1.14 R 19.06
173.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.88 R 14.83
13.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$4.07 R 68.3
246.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.17 R 19.69
15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$20.9K R 350.9K
29.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$20.5K R 344.5K
60.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
George
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$129 R 2,161
-3.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$15.95 R 268
-14.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$52.4 R 878
-64.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
George
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$27.18 R 456
126.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$11.30 R 190
49.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$5.73 R 96.1
60.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
George
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$125 R 2,097
458.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$4,785 R 80.3K
225.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
George
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$72.5 R 1,216
-20.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$31.91 R 535
10.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$98.3 R 1,649
15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$88.3 R 1,480
-2.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
George
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$390 R 6,537
58.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$332 R 5,564
34.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$721 R 12.1K
184.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$784 R 13.2K
90.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$720 R 12.1K
424.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$542 R 9,093
388.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
George
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$1,327 R 22.3K
-60.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.88
-51.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for George: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $390 in George. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in George for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $192 per month, with George 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 George: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is George cheaper than Phuket?
George is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or George?
On paper, George earns 153% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and George?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $390 in George. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or George?
Dining out is cheaper in George – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs George?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,078 in George – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or George?
At $1,078 in George versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in George but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes George the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or George more family-friendly?
For families, George is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or George?
Safety-wise, Phuket and George are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find George gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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