😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,053 in Haapsalu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,655 in Haapsalu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,256 in Haapsalu.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 20% more expensive than Haapsalu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Haapsalu21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$17.69€15.22
-73.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$70.3€60.5
-35.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$9.55€8.21
-11.73%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$3.65€3.14
-19.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$2.49€2.14
-72.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$2.70€2.33
-86.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$5.20€4.47
-53.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$5.92€5.09
-37.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.27€1.09
75.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$1.48€1.27
23.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.40€2.07
-9.58%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.85€2.45
-22.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$12.45€10.71
58.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$8.66€7.45
-58.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$11.29€9.71
19.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.91€1.64
71.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.57€1.35
2.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.02€1.74
19.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.33€2.00
-10.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.04€0.90
47.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.59€0.50
150.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.79€1.54
-44.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$1.02€0.88
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$6.40€5.51
-31.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$10.58€9.10
83.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.93€1.66
-7.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.18€1.87
24.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$3.44€2.96
-12.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.74€0.64
33.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$20.38€17.53
-30.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.93€1.66
-29.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$23.0K€19.8K
22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$22.3K€19.2K
47.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$267€230
-54.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$22.93€19.72
-40.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$35.52€30.55
-48.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$31.36€26.98
-45.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$11.43€9.83
-23.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$116€100.0
496.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$8,045€6,920
94.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$122€105
-51.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$39.00€33.54
-10.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$98.9€85.1
15.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$95.5€82.2
-12.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,861€1,601
101.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,516€1,304
72.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haapsalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,450€1,248
-64.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2
166.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Haapsalu: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Haapsalu pays 185% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $70.0 in Haapsalu. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $261, with Haapsalu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Haapsalu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Haapsalu?
Phuket and Haapsalu differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,053 including rent). Haapsalu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Haapsalu earns 185% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Haapsalu?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,053 in Haapsalu – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,053 in Haapsalu versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haapsalu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Haapsalu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Haapsalu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Haapsalu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Haapsalu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Haapsalu?
Expats usually find Haapsalu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.