šA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $524 in Hurghada, rent included.
šA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $993 in Hurghada, rent included.
šA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,462 in Hurghada, rent included.
šPhuket costs about 135% more than Hurghada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šBoth Phuket and Hurghada are more affordable than the global median ā Phuket8% lower, Hurghada61% lower.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63ąøæ151
$4.02EĀ£213
15.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84ąøæ1,532
$39.54EĀ£2,096
18.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84ąøæ289
$6.07EĀ£322
45.63%
Cappuccino
$3.00ąøæ98.0
$1.60EĀ£84.7
87.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74ąøæ24.25
$0.37EĀ£19.73
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37ąøæ11.95
$0.14EĀ£7.45
164.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44ąøæ79.8
$1.94EĀ£103
25.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61ąøæ118
$2.70EĀ£143
33.70%
š Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26ąøæ73.9
$0.93EĀ£49.46
143.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84ąøæ60.1
$0.61EĀ£32.34
201.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24ąøæ73.4
$1.03EĀ£54.4
117.48%
Eggs
$2.32ąøæ75.7
$2.18EĀ£115
6.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67ąøæ643
$3.43EĀ£182
473.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65ąøæ119
$6.50EĀ£345
-43.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10ąøæ428
$9.69EĀ£514
35.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39ąøæ111
$1.32EĀ£69.9
156.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64ąøæ53.7
$0.46EĀ£24.53
256.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41ąøæ79.0
$0.39EĀ£20.93
517.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03ąøæ66.4
$0.60EĀ£31.99
238.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56ąøæ50.9
$0.47EĀ£24.65
231.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50ąøæ48.94
$0.58EĀ£30.65
158.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02ąøæ33.50
$0.30EĀ£16.02
240.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49ąøæ16.00
$0.17EĀ£9.24
188.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45ąøæ145
$2.00EĀ£106
122.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88ąøæ617
$7.35EĀ£390
156.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78ąøæ58.1
$1.22EĀ£64.9
45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75ąøæ90.1
$1.77EĀ£93.8
55.37%
š Getting Around
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40ąøæ45.81
$0.10EĀ£5.51
1300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48ąøæ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12ąøæ102
$0.42EĀ£22.22
642.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00ąøæ32.67
$0.20EĀ£10.81
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09ąøæ461
$1.96EĀ£104
618.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35ąøæ44.19
$0.35EĀ£18.80
285.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kąøæ888.9K
$17.9KEĀ£951.1K
51.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kąøæ1.1M
$33.5KEĀ£1.8M
-1.60%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125ąøæ4,087
$26.30EĀ£1,394
375.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57ąøæ444
$8.35EĀ£443
62.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52ąøæ606
$12.73EĀ£675
45.48%
š Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5ąøæ2,010
$27.31EĀ£1,448
125.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84ąøæ551
$6.94EĀ£368
142.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19ąøæ300
$3.40EĀ£180
170.29%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698ąøæ22.8K
$97.5EĀ£5,168
616.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kąøæ509.9K
$581EĀ£30.8K
2581.44%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8ąøæ1,889
$11.17EĀ£592
417.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24ąøæ1,152
$19.94EĀ£1,057
76.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113ąøæ3,699
$107EĀ£5,670
5.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4ąøæ2,825
$51.5EĀ£2,730
67.76%
š Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616ąøæ20.1K
$257EĀ£13.6K
139.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446ąøæ14.6K
$128EĀ£6,802
247.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048ąøæ67.0K
$261EĀ£13.8K
684.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492ąøæ48.8K
$448EĀ£23.8K
232.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779ąøæ123.6K
$554EĀ£29.4K
582.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649ąøæ86.6K
$637EĀ£33.8K
316.02%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524ąøæ17.1K
$155EĀ£8,202
238.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.67
-68.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hurghada: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $257 in Hurghada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
š°Salaries run about 239% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Hurghada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $144 ā making Hurghada 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 Hurghada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurghada cheaper than Phuket?
Yes ā Phuket is pricier by about 135%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $786 in Hurghada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hurghada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Hurghada?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $524 in Hurghada. The difference isn't just one category ā it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $97.5 in Hurghada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Hurghada?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hurghada, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Hurghada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Hurghada more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hurghada ā lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hurghada?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison ā central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hurghada. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.