ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,969 in Gharghur, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,929 in Gharghur, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,889 in Gharghur, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 37% cheaper than Gharghur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Gharghur is 47% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.69âŽ11.72
-66.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$68.4âŽ58.5
-31.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.54âŽ9.88
-23.40%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.33âŽ2.00
28.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.71âŽ2.32
-72.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.19âŽ1.02
-68.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.85âŽ4.15
-49.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.00âŽ3.42
-9.75%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.25âŽ1.07
80.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.27âŽ1.09
44.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.39âŽ2.90
-33.92%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.61âŽ3.09
-35.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$9.73âŽ8.33
102.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$10.94âŽ9.36
-66.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$14.18âŽ12.14
-7.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.28âŽ2.81
3.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.06âŽ1.76
-20.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.88âŽ2.46
-16.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.24âŽ2.78
-37.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.88âŽ1.61
-17.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.85âŽ2.44
-47.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.94âŽ1.66
-47.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.28âŽ1.10
-61.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.52âŽ5.58
-31.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.33âŽ5.42
198.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.36âŽ2.02
-24.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.76âŽ1.51
56.25%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.68âŽ2.29
-47.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$8.24âŽ7.05
-62.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.90âŽ1.63
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$34.94âŽ29.91
-59.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.59âŽ1.36
-15.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$25.7KâŽ22.0K
5.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$40.5KâŽ34.7K
-18.77%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$170âŽ145
-26.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$29.23âŽ25.02
-53.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$33.30âŽ28.51
-44.38%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$65.3âŽ55.9
-5.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$22.82âŽ19.53
-26.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$15.05âŽ12.88
-38.94%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$262âŽ224
166.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$12.7KâŽ10.8K
23.26%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$103âŽ87.9
-43.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$38.46âŽ32.93
-8.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$146âŽ125
-22.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$102âŽ87.5
-15.45%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,130âŽ967
-45.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$954âŽ817
-53.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,000âŽ1,712
2.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,521âŽ1,302
-1.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,191âŽ3,588
-9.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,916âŽ2,496
-9.18%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gharghur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,542âŽ2,176
-79.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.43
-1.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gharghur: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,130 in Gharghur. 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 385% higher in Gharghur, 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 $68.0 in Gharghur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $299 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 Gharghur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Gharghur?
Gharghur costs about 60% 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 Gharghur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,954 in Gharghur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Gharghur?
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 much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Gharghur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $1,969 in Gharghur. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Gharghur?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $262 in Gharghur. 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 Gharghur?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Gharghur at $1,969. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gharghur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Gharghur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,969 in Gharghur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Gharghur?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Gharghur?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gharghur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.