Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hurghada

For one person, living is cheaper in Hurghada: $473 a month against $1,190 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
Hurghada
🇪🇬 Egypt
$473
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Hurghada

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 Hurghada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $473 in Hurghada, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,190
  • Hurghada $473

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $963 in Hurghada, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,006
  • Hurghada $963

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $1,453 in Hurghada, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,822
  • Hurghada $1,453

Phuket costs about 152% more than Hurghada, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Hurghada are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Hurghada 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$3.88 E£203
12.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,087
$39.97 E£2,091
-18.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿282
$5.82 E£304
44.67%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.0
$1.94 E£102
44.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$0.48 E£25.05
81.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.39
$0.20 E£10.35
130.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.92 E£101
34.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$3.12 E£163
16.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.2
$0.94 E£49.30
81.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$0.78 E£40.66
85.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$0.60 E£31.59
160.00%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.3
$1.92 E£101
9.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿654
$3.25 E£170
500.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$5.87 E£307
-42.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$9.62 E£503
15.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿94.8
$1.42 E£74.4
99.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$0.48 E£24.94
237.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.5
$0.41 E£21.47
441.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿71.9
$0.43 E£22.52
400.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$0.34 E£17.81
338.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.40
$0.41 E£21.42
224.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.72
$0.27 E£13.97
296.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.01
$0.18 E£9.52
183.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$2.14 E£112
104.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿629
$7.43 E£389
152.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.21 E£63.3
43.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.74 E£91.2
59.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.6
$0.20 E£10.27
985.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿746
$5.72 E£299
289.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$0.98 E£51.4
208.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.43
$0.20 E£10.37
430.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿124
$1.93 E£101
92.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.88
$0.45 E£23.69
217.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.1K
$31.8K E£1.7M
-17.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿877.3K
$22.3K E£1.2M
17.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,236
$24.80 E£1,298
289.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿382
$7.72 E£404
47.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿573
$9.60 E£502
78.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,768
$27.21 E£1,424
94.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿371
$5.99 E£313
84.81%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿256
$3.36 E£176
127.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$99.9 E£5,229
455.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿377.7K
$604 E£31.6K
1767.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,123
$20.13 E£1,053
215.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿958
$32.96 E£1,724
-13.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,238
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,967
$28.43 E£1,487
211.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.6K
$213 E£11.2K
244.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.3K
$119 E£6,245
283.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.4K
$216 E£11.3K
872.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.7K
$555 E£29.0K
113.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿116.9K
$553 E£28.9K
531.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.4K
$602 E£31.5K
313.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hurghada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
$154 E£8,082
224.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Hurghada: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$458
Hurghada
$119 73.9% $339
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Hurghada
$139 48.3% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Hurghada
$42 66.3% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$125
Hurghada
$37 * 70.6% $88
Eating Out
Phuket
$119
Hurghada
$90 24.2% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Hurghada
$34 50.2% $34
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Hurghada
$8.5 78.4% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Phuket versus $213 in Hurghada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 224% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Hurghada. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Phuket vs $139 in Hurghada – so Hurghada wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇪🇬 Hurghada
🕒 Local time
18:06 6:06 PM
14:06 2:06 PM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
160,901
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

EGP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 52.32 EGP (100 EGP = 1.91 USD). 1 EUR = 58.63 EGP (100 EGP = 1.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Hurghada 7,100 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Hurghada

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 Hurghada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurghada cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 152%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Phuket and $709 in Hurghada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 and in Hurghada?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,190 in Phuket and $473 in Hurghada. That's a gap of about 152%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 290% less in Hurghada. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Hurghada?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hurghada, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Phuket at $1,190. 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 – 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 – 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.

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