Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Georgetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Georgetown

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,317 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,426 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,535 in Georgetown, rent included.

Phuket is about 4% cheaper than Georgetown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Georgetown are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Georgetown 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$11.78 GYD 2,449
-60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$72.5 GYD 15.1K
-37.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$8.59 GYD 1,786
-1.86%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$5.16 GYD 1,073
-43.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$1.19 GYD 247
-42.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$0.65 GYD 135
-43.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$2.06 GYD 428
16.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.35 GYD 488
58.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$3.36 GYD 699
-33.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$2.14 GYD 445
-14.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$1.89 GYD 393
14.81%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$4.00 GYD 831
-44.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$13.94 GYD 2,898
41.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.17 GYD 1,283
-41.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.42 GYD 1,958
43.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$9.36 GYD 1,947
-64.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$2.60 GYD 541
-38.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$3.23 GYD 671
-25.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$6.26 GYD 1,301
-66.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$2.40 GYD 498
-36.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$3.01 GYD 627
-50.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$2.29 GYD 475
-56.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$1.44 GYD 300
-64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.57 GYD 535
71.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$17.05 GYD 3,544
13.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.75 GYD 363
1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$2.45 GYD 509
10.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$0.61 GYD 126
124.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$29.07 GYD 6,043
-60.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$3.20 GYD 664
-5.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$3.29 GYD 684
-69.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$12.07 GYD 2,509
16.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.04 GYD 216
30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$22.0K GYD 4.6M
28.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$17.3K GYD 3.6M
89.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$90.5 GYD 18.8K
34.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$27.39 GYD 5,695
-50.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$51.1 GYD 10.6K
-64.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$39.07 GYD 8,122
54.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.55 GYD 1,362
32.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$1,023 GYD 212.6K
-32.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$22.9K GYD 4.8M
-31.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$34.88 GYD 7,251
70.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$52.0 GYD 10.8K
-33.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$130 GYD 27.1K
-12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$77.7 GYD 16.2K
7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$793 GYD 164.8K
-22.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$315 GYD 65.6K
38.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$2,481 GYD 515.8K
-15.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,191 GYD 247.6K
26.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$3,505 GYD 728.7K
6.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$1,573 GYD 327.0K
66.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Georgetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$517 GYD 107.4K
-1.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
7.5
-28.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Georgetown: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $793 in Georgetown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Georgetown, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $72.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $373 – 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 Georgetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Georgetown?
Georgetown costs about 4% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Georgetown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,976 in Georgetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Georgetown?
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.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Georgetown?
Public transport costs about 155% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Georgetown?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $1,023 in Georgetown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Georgetown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Georgetown at $1,317. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Georgetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Georgetown?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,317 in Georgetown. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Georgetown?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Georgetown?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Georgetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities