Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hastings, United Kingdom

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,693 in Hastings, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Hastings, United Kingdom
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Hastings
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,693
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hastings

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Hastings actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,693 in Hastings.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Hastings $2,693

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $3,585 in Hastings.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Hastings $3,585

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $4,477 in Hastings.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Hastings $4,477

Living in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Hastings, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Hastings is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$24.48 £18.25
-81.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$78.6 £58.6
-58.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.50 £8.58
-23.39%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.38 £3.27
-35.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.40
$3.10 £2.31
-71.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$1.35 £1.00
-63.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$6.76 £5.04
-62.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.67 £4.97
-44.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$0.67 £0.50
147.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.29
$1.67 £1.24
-12.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.70 £2.01
-44.44%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.28 £2.44
-36.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$9.86 £7.35
93.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.73 £7.25
-66.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$13.45 £10.03
-18.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.8
$2.99 £2.23
-2.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.69 £1.26
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$2.79 £2.08
-19.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$3.40 £2.53
-38.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.83 £1.36
-17.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.51
$1.57 £1.17
-12.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.95
$1.20 £0.89
-10.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.50
$1.81 £1.35
-71.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$17.05 £12.71
-75.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$6.61 £4.93
184.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$2.96 £2.21
-38.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$3.52 £2.62
-19.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.97
$3.68 £2.74
-60.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,911
$96.1 £71.6
-41.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$4.24 £3.16
-28.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.32
$1.07 £0.80
-4.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$31.92 £23.80
-88.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.75
$2.02 £1.51
-27.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.2K
$37.9K £28.2K
-29.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.3K
$40.0K £29.8K
-33.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,250
$332 £247
-70.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$20.22 £15.08
-44.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$53.3 £39.73
-68.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$46.59 £34.74
44.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$16.08 £11.99
-53.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$1,618 £1,206
-70.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.9K
$18.1K £13.5K
-37.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,103
$102 £76.4
-39.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$52.7 £39.25
-46.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,180
$101 £75.3
-6.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,894
$132 £98.1
-34.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$1,450 £1,081
-50.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,277 £952
-61.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$2,127 £1,586
-9.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,491 £1,112
-4.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.8K
$5,003 £3,730
-16.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$3,851 £2,871
-20.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hastings
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$3,316 £2,473
-84.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.96
12.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hastings: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Hastings
$1.3K 160% $786
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Hastings
$289 8.6% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Hastings
$405 226% $281
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Hastings
$174 43.1% $53
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Hastings
$348 186% $226
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Hastings
$79 4.2% $3.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Hastings
$120 70.6% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,450 in Hastings. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hastings pays about 6.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $79 in Hastings for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $289 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇧 Hastings
🕒 Local time
21:29 9:29 PM
14:29 2:29 PM
7 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
92,855
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.746 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.832 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Hastings 9,870 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Hastings

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hastings: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Hastings?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $2,693 in Hastings, so Phuket is about 53% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Hastings?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,450 in Hastings. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Hastings?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $2,693 in Hastings – Phuket is about 53% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Hastings?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 41% less than in Hastings. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,693 in Hastings, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hastings. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Hastings?
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.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Hastings?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Hastings. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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