ðA single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $2,055 in Greenock, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $2,647 in Greenock, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $3,239 in Greenock, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 39% cheaper than Greenock, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 7% below the global median, while Greenock is 53% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$13.86ÂĢ10.27
-66.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$68.7ÂĢ50.9
-31.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$8.19ÂĢ6.07
6.23%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$3.32ÂĢ2.46
-12.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$1.99ÂĢ1.47
-65.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.34ÂĢ0.99
-70.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$5.39ÂĢ3.99
-53.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$6.81ÂĢ5.05
-44.20%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.74ÂĢ1.29
24.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.07ÂĢ1.54
-9.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$2.94ÂĢ2.18
-26.53%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$3.26ÂĢ2.42
-31.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$9.67ÂĢ7.16
102.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$10.50ÂĢ7.78
-63.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$13.34ÂĢ9.88
0.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$3.24ÂĢ2.40
0.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.92ÂĢ1.42
-16.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$3.31ÂĢ2.45
-30.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$4.01ÂĢ2.97
-48.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.79ÂĢ1.32
-10.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.40ÂĢ1.04
2.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.44ÂĢ1.07
-28.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$1.47ÂĢ1.09
-67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$20.02ÂĢ14.83
-77.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$11.27ÂĢ8.35
70.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$2.70ÂĢ2.00
-32.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$3.75ÂĢ2.78
-28.27%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$3.46ÂĢ2.56
-60.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$104ÂĢ77.2
-88.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$5.37ÂĢ3.98
-42.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.36ÂĢ1.01
-26.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$27.51ÂĢ20.38
-50.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$1.90ÂĢ1.41
-31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$38.3KÂĢ28.4K
-28.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$42.2KÂĢ31.3K
-21.83%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$147ÂĢ109
-14.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$18.02ÂĢ13.35
-23.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$42.78ÂĢ31.70
-56.50%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$26.63ÂĢ19.73
127.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$13.37ÂĢ9.91
-32.61%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$1,495ÂĢ1,108
-53.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$8,623ÂĢ6,390
86.84%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$86.2ÂĢ63.9
-31.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$47.82ÂĢ35.44
-27.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$108ÂĢ79.9
5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$85.1ÂĢ63.1
0.80%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$620ÂĢ460
-0.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$1,000ÂĢ741
-56.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$875ÂĢ648
137.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$804ÂĢ596
87.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Greenock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.62
-5.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Greenock: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $620 in Greenock. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $69 in Greenock. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $321 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 Greenock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Greenock?
Greenock costs about 65% 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 Greenock?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Phuket and $3,082 in Greenock. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Greenock?
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 Greenock?
Public transport costs about 786% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Greenock?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $1,495 in Greenock. 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 Greenock?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Greenock at $2,055. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Greenock it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Greenock?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,247 versus $2,055 in Greenock. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Greenock?
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 Greenock?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Greenock makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.