Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hermel Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hermel

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $895 in Hermel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,416 in Hermel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,938 in Hermel.

Living in Phuket is roughly 38% more expensive than Hermel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Hermel 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$10.95 LBP 980.5K
-57.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$58.8 LBP 5.3M
-20.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$7.80 LBP 698.1K
13.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$3.39 LBP 303.5K
-11.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.58 LBP 141.4K
-53.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.88 LBP 78.3K
-57.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$3.54 LBP 316.8K
-31.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$4.95 LBP 442.9K
-27.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.79 LBP 159.8K
26.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.79 LBP 70.6K
132.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.76 LBP 157.9K
27.27%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$3.06 LBP 273.8K
-24.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$11.12 LBP 995.1K
76.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$9.73 LBP 871.2K
-62.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$11.29 LBP 1.0M
16.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.79 LBP 160.0K
89.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.47 LBP 131.5K
11.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.13 LBP 101.6K
113.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.06 LBP 94.6K
91.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.93 LBP 83.2K
67.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.03 LBP 92.2K
45.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.88 LBP 78.9K
15.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.53 LBP 47.4K
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$2.56 LBP 229.3K
73.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$10.94 LBP 978.8K
72.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.27 LBP 113.9K
40.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.15 LBP 192.7K
27.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$5.07 LBP 453.3K
-38.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.28 LBP 114.8K
-21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$20.16 LBP 1.8M
-30.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$0.89 LBP 79.7K
51.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$34.7K LBP 3.1B
-21.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$28.0K LBP 2.5B
17.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$216 LBP 19.4M
-42.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$37.81 LBP 3.4M
-64.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$37.14 LBP 3.3M
-50.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$7.93 LBP 710.0K
15.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$307 LBP 27.5M
127.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$4,439 LBP 397.3M
251.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
-17.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$44.45 LBP 4.0M
-20.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$124 LBP 11.1M
-8.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$92.8 LBP 8.3M
-6.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hermel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.16
-52.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hermel: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Hermel. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $236, with Hermel 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 Hermel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Hermel?
Hermel wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hermel the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Hermel?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,342 in Hermel to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Hermel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Hermel?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $895 in Hermel – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Hermel?
At $895 in Hermel versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hermel but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Hermel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Hermel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hermel delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $895 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hermel hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Hermel?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Hermel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hermel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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